Coronavirus Disease – COVID 19 Situation Note No. 2 As of 16:00 hours, 6 April 2020
OVERVIEW OF SITUATION IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN Global cases:
Eastern Caribbean cases: All countries and overseas British Territories covered by the Multi-Country Office have confirmed cases with a total of 127 cases and 2 deaths as of 6 April. Countries measures: To contain the spread of COVID 19: • All countries have moved to imposing travel restrictions including some border closures to commercial flights. •
Except for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, all Eastern Caribbean countries have established 24 hour or partial curfews, with defined essential services up, until the second week of April 2020.
•
Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have put in place stimulus packages and/or enacted exceptional budgetary approvals by Parliament to address the immediate needs of COVID 19.
UPDATE Country
Confirmed
Death
Status
Schools Closed
Travel Restrictions
Social Distance
Anguilla
3
-
Imported
Yes
Yes
Antigua & Barbuda Barbados
7
-
Yes
60
2
Imported/ local Imported/ local transmission Imported/ local transmission Imported/ local transmission
Borders Closed* Specific nationalities Specific nationalities
Yes
Imported/ local transmission Imported/ local transmission Imported/ local transmission Imported/ local transmission Imported
British Virgin Islands Dominica
3
-
11
-
Grenada
12
-
Montserrat
6
-
Saint Kitts & Nevis
9
-
Saint Lucia
13
-
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
3
-
Emergenc y Declaratio n/Statutor y Orders
National Lockdown/ Curfew
27 March -10 April 2020 24-hour curfew from April 2 -9 24-hour curfew from April 3 -14
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Borders Closed*
Yes
Yes
24-hour curfew from April 2-16
Yes
Flights suspended
Yes
Yes
Yes
Borders Closed*
Yes
Yes
Yes
Borders Closed**
Yes
Yes
Borders Closed*
-
Yes
Borders Closed*
Yes
12-hour curfew on weekdays and 24hour curfew on weekends until 20 April 24-hour curfew from 31 March – 6 April 24-hour curfew from March 28, April 14 24-hour curfew from 31 March to 3 April 24-hour curfew until 7 April
-
Specific nationalities
-
Yes
Total 127 2 () New data. *Borders closed to commercial traffic /**Borders closed with exceptions
Yes
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UN RESPONSE •
Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and PAHO Representative for the Eastern Caribbean, and in coordination with the United Nations Sub Regional Team (UNST) Head of Agencies, a UN inter-agency COVID 19 Committee established to support the implementation of the inter-agency response in the region.
•
Based on country-specific gap analysis (for Eastern Caribbean countries) conducted by PAHO and additional sector needs, a Country Preparedness and Response Plan (CPRP) (for individual countries) will be launched later this week in the COVID 19 Partners Platform. Excel matrix available.
•
A Multi-sectoral COVID 19-Eastern Caribbean SIDS Response and Recovery Plan is being drafted with three main objectives and eight response sectors addressing the short and long-term needs: ▪ To contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic; ▪ To minimize social and economic impacts and ▪ To promote protection and well-being of the most vulnerable.
Countries gap analyses and needs assessments & OECS Commission needs.
Country Preparedness Response Plan & Multi-Sectoral COVID Strategic Plan
7 countries and 3 BOTs.
Approx. US $ 20 M. Duration: 8 -12 months
8 months, until December 2020 Initiated /ongoing Response by Sectors: •
PAHO has provided countries with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits in collaboration with the Regional Security Services (RSS). Has provided COVID 19 testing kits and training to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
•
PAHO conducted training and provided communication materials in the form of a “COVID19 Risk Communication Package for Health Care Facilities Toolkit” to Ministries of Health and virtual training on Surveillance, clinical management and infection prevention and control. Additional, training on WASH to health care works and other personnel.
•
PAHO with a contribution of US $ 1.2 million from USAID1 is supporting countries with case management, risk communications, surveillance and psychosocial support.
•
IAEA to donate RT- PRC reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing equipment and test kits to Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
•
Joint Procurement Task Force established under the UN RC guidance between PAHO, UNDP, UNICEF and UNOPS to support countries with the purchase of medical equipment and other immediate needs. US $ 8.3 million funding requirement.
Health and Wellness
1
Total contribution from USAID for COVID Response to Eastern Caribbean government amounts to U$ 1.7, of which US $ 1.2 M is being implemented by PAHO and US $ 500,000 by UNICEF.
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Food and Nutrition Security and Standards
Economic Recovery and Livelihoods Restoration
•
WFP, with the support of FAO, developed an online CARICOM survey launched on 1 April to provide a rapid overview of the impacts of COVID-19 on food security, livelihoods and access to markets. o Survey: arcg.is/1SuCrb o Realtime dashboard: mobile: arcg.is/izn5H; computer: arcg.is/Ca8X0
•
FAO contributing to CARICOM Secretariat-led platform on the response of COVID 19 with a coordinated response to food and nutrition security to the sub region by bringing together public and private sector actors.
•
Micro-economic impact assessment being undertaken by UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women in the following countries and territories: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Anguilla and British Virgin Islands.
•
UNICEF with the support of US $ 500,000 from USAID has initiated to assist with: 1. Children Risk Communication Strategy and Community Engagement through Live Facebook sessions and media platform on psychosocial and care-givers support, 2. Needs assessment on the continuity of schools while curfew period and preparation for safe reopening.
•
Potential repurposing of funds from the SDG Fund Joint Programme on Universal, Adaptive Social Protection in Saint Lucia and Barbados to support analysis on impacts, technical assistance and potential expansion of safety nets.
•
UN agencies, including UNICEF and WFP, are liaising with governments and regional bodies on supporting governments to scale-up social assistance in response to COVID-19 impacts.
•
UNICEF in collaboration with PAHO developed a COVID-19 Child Protection Response Plan and rolling with the OECS Commission an online psychological first aid seminar.
•
UN Women has developed a policy paper “COVID-19 AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN CARICOM: POLICY AND PROGRAMME CONSIDERATIONS” to provide guidance to NGMs and other policy makers on gender transformative policy making within the COVID-19 context.
•
Spotlight Initiative Joint Programme - Grenada to repurpose funds to address the expected increase of GBV due to confinement measures.
•
Spotlight Regional Joint Programme to redirect focus and funding for COVID 19 response.
•
UN Women in collaboration with PAHO developing a template guideline for shelters to be shared with National Gender Machineries (NGMs).
•
UNFPA supporting communication GBV & SRH (briefs and posters) to Gender Bureaux, Ministries of Health, Civil Society and Family Planning associations, Academia, media and youth.
•
UNFPA support to the Barbados Council for the Disabled on adapting messaging on GBV and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) for persons with disabilities.
Education
Social Protection
GBV and Violence Against Children
COVID 19 Situation Note - No. 02 | 4
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
•
WFP established a Caribbean COVID-19 Logistics Cell (co-led by CDEMA) including PAHO, UNICEF, NMCCC military members in the Caribbean, ECHO, Global Affairs Canada, UNOPS, IFRC and French Red Cross (with more entities joining) to strengthen coordination and to gain an understanding of regional supply chain needs and potential common service support.
•
WFP is finalizing a concept for the development of an air bridge in the Caribbean for life-saving medical and technical support that could be activated based on funding. A similar concept is under development for a sea bridge to strengthen Caribbean regional integration for food and other basic commodities.
GENERAL COORDINATION •
The Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) is coordinating support to countries. The Eastern Caribbean Development Partners Group (ECDPG) met for its second time on 26 March to discuss the evolving situation, impact and response to COVID 19. o Logistics and Procurement Cell receiving countries needs and responding under the Regional Coordination Centre (RCC).
•
The UN’s broad response to COVID 19 is being addressed through the following global, regional and subregional mechanisms:
•
o
Global Humanitarian Appeal for COVID 19 – US $ 2.01 billion: Launched by the UN SecretaryGeneral on 25 March with a timeframe of April to December 2020, prioritizing primarily 40 of the most vulnerable countries. For the LAC region only: Colombia, Venezuela and Haiti are prioritized. Appeal has now received US $ 396.5 million of the total. ▪ UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund – US $60 million complementing the Global Appeal to allow access to small amount of funding for immediate basic needs prioritized countries.
o
UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund- US $ 1 billion: A three windows fund launched on 31 March by the UN Secretary-General complementing WHO’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and the Global Humanitarian Appeal. For a nine-months period, the Fund will support low-middle income countries in their response in the following areas. Country Teams are expected to submit proposals based on needs. 1. Tackle the health emergency; 2. Focus on the social impact, and the economic response and recovery; and 3. Help countries recover better.
o
PAHO/WHO Appeals for the Americas: US $ 53,500 million appeal launched on 5 March and a request of US $ 11,942 million required for the Caribbean, for: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
o
The UN Sub-Regional Team Barbados and OECS is finalizing its Multi-Sectoral Strategic Response Plan for the Eastern Caribbean region as a joint framework of coordination, support to countries and mobilization of resources.
On 31 March, the UN Secretary-General launched the Report “Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID 19” calling for a coordinated and long-term approach to the COVID 19 impact. As companion instrument to operationalize the UN COVID 19 Response and Recovery Fund is expected to be presented later this week: “A UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19” which will serve as the interagency framework for the response.
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USEFUL LINK OR SOURCES OF INFORMATION Websites: UN https://www.un.org/coronavirus WHO/PAHO https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus PAHO https://www.paho.org/en/topics/coronavirus-infections/coronavirus-disease-covid-19 UN Barbados and the OECS social media: https://twitter.com/UNBdosandOECS https://www.facebook.com/UNBarbadosandOECS/ https://www.instagram.com/unbarbadosandoecs/ WFP Daily Updates on LAC: http://arcg.is/iTnb1 http://arcg.is/4PHG9 The situation report will be updated on a weekly basis unless otherwise required.
For further information, please contact: COVID Outbreak Coordinator: Dr. Karen Polson, PAHO [polsonkar@paho] and Ms. Sarah Lionel, RCO [sarah.lionel@one.un.org]