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NHC UPDATE

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, as of 8:00 PM (AST) on July 24, 2020, the center of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 10 degrees North, longitude 56.3 degrees West. Gonzalo is moving toward the west near 18 mph (30 km/h). A general westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next two days. On the forecast track, Gonzalo will move across the southern Windward Islands Saturday afternoon or evening and over the eastern Caribbean Sea on Sunday.

Bridgetown, Barbados July 23rd, 2020 (CDEMA) - Critically needed personal protective equipment (PPE) is on its way to medical workers on the front lines of the Caribbean’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

Yesterday, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) took delivery of the majority of US$3 million worth of PPE at the Port of Bridgetown. CDB procured and purchased the equipment with concessional resources through the Bank’s Special Development Fund.

NHC Update

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, as of 5:00 PM (AST) on July 23, 2020, the center of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 9.8 degrees North, longitude 49.4 degrees West. Gonzalo is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h). A westward to west-northwestward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected through the weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Gonzalo will approach the southern Windward Islands Friday night and
move across the islands Saturday and Saturday evening. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next day or two, and there is still a chance that Gonzalo could become a hurricane. Weakening is expected after Gonzalo moves into the Caribbean Sea.Gonzalo is a tiny tropical storm, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center.The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).

Bridgetown, Barbados July 21st, 2020 (CDEMA) – Canada continues to show its commitment to the fight against COVID-19 in the region by partnering with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), with its latest approval of funds to support the establishment of the Integrated Regional Logistics Hub (IRLH). A total of CAD$401,359.53 was re-allocated from the Targeted Support to CDEMA Project, towards the operations of the hub, which will ensure the supply of Personal Protective Equipment and other medical supplies to the frontline workers of its 18 Participating States.

COVID-19 Regional Surveillance Update for 16th June - The George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, U.W.I.

In the week to Thursday July 16, 2020 among the 20 CARICOM members and associate members, there have been 697 new confirmed cases (compared to 692 last week, and 902 two weeks ago) and 25 new confirmed deaths (compared to 23 last week, and 20 two weeks ago). Most of these new cases were identified in Haiti (416).The remaining 281 cases were reported in 13 countries: Antigua and Barbuda (1 case); The Bahamas (13 cases); Barbados (6 cases); Belize (9 cases); Bermuda (1 case); Cayman Islands (2 cases); Guyana (28 cases); Jamaica (12 cases); Montserrat (1 case); St. Kitts and Nevis (1 case); St. Vincent and the Grenadines (6 cases); Suriname (184 cases); Turks and Caicos Islands (17 cases).

In the past 24 hours there have been 129 new confirmed cases and 3 new confirmed deaths. With 6902 confirmed cases, 416 of these in the past week, Haiti remains the outbreak hotspot among the CARICOM members. The continuing outbreak in neighbouring Dominican Republic (47,671 cases, 8083 in the past week, 929 deaths) compounds the situation in Haiti.

Bridgetown, Barbados July 13th, 2020 (CDEMA) – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Coordinating Unit (CDEMA CU) concluded a two-day workshop last Thursday on training of deployment personnel in operational readiness. As Participating States prepare for the hurricane season while grappling with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the workshop sought to orient attendees from around the region on the updated deployment protocols. The online training sessions proved useful in enhancing the capacity of regional personnel, with over 120 persons in attendance.

Bridgetown, Barbados, July 6th, 2020 (CDEMA) - The highest decision-making body of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which forms The Council of Ministers, recognised the leadership role of Agency and by extension the Participating States in the management of the COVID-19 event during the 10th Annual Ordinary Session, which was held via ZOOM over two days, June 26 and July 3, 2020. The Council noted the efforts being undertaken by the Agency to coordinate response and relief to the region amidst the COVID-19 pandemic specifically in facilitating the relief supplies hub for the region.

COVID-19 Regional Surveillance Update for 18th June - The George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, U.W.I.

In the week to Thursday July 2, 2020 among the 20 CARICOM members and associate members, there have been 902 new confirmed cases (compared to 975 last week, and 1080 two weeks ago) and 20 new confirmed deaths (compared to 14 last week, and 28 two weeks ago). Most of these new cases were identified in Haiti (611).The remaining 291 cases were reported in 8 countries: Antigua and Barbuda (1 case); Belize (5 cases); Cayman Islands (5 cases); Guyana (39 cases); Jamaica (29 cases); Suriname (178
cases); Trinidad and Tobago (7 cases); Turks and Caicos Islands (27 cases) In the past 24 hours there have been 93 new confirmed cases and 3 new confirmed deaths. With 6040 confirmed cases, 611 of these in the past week, Haiti remains the outbreak hotspot among the CARICOM members. The continuing outbreak in neighbouring Dominican Republic (33387 cases, 4756 in the past week, 754 deaths) compounds the situation in Haiti. In response to the new cluster of cases on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos has re-imposed localised restrictions.

The CDEMA – OECS Environmental Sustainability Webinar Series presents a webinar titled "Shelter Management, Best Practices and Tools for Preparedness" on 14th July 2020 at 10:00 a.m. This webinar will discuss the implications of the COVID-19 crisis for shelter management policy, protocols and practices, now and in the future, and provide practical approaches for managing shelters during the crisis.

  1. CDEMA Situation Report #16 - COVID-19 Outbreak in CDEMA Participating States - as of 8:00pm on June 25th, 2020
  2. The CARICOM COVID-19 Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey – Round 2 can now be accessed
  3. CDEMA Situation Report #15 - COVID-19 Outbreak in CDEMA Participating States - as of 8:00pm on June 18th, 2020
  4. CDEMA Situation Report #14 - COVID-19 Outbreak in CDEMA Participating States - as of 8:00pm on June 11th, 2020
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