Central America Needs Additional PPE

In response to the increase in SARS-CoV-2 virus cases and fatalities related to COVID-19 pneumonia among healthcare workers in the Region of the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) urged Member States on August 31, 2020, to strengthen the capacity of healthcare services across all levels and to equip healthcare workers with appropriate resources to respond to the ongoing pandemic.

Sustained human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 has been reported in most of the Region of the Americas; in addition, transmission in the healthcare setting has also been reported.

Healthcare workers can be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 through unprotected contact with infected patients or through contact with other infected healthcare workers. Exposure in the healthcare services context could be due to non-compliance with infection prevention and control standards, inappropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and/or the lack of or inadequate PPE, stated the PAHO/WHO.