PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti– Haiti says it is concerned that the country will be stretched tremendously over the next six months as the authorities deal with the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season and the ongoing battle to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“The Executive is concerned at the highest level about the hurricane season which begins and the health crisis which is raging with the Covid-19. The 2020 hurricane season will be active and difficult,” said Prime Minister Jouthe Joseph, calling on the population to adopt preventive measures to limit the damage that the season could cause.
The Ministry of Public Health Tuesday announced that the country had recorded 102 new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of cases to 2,226 since the first case was detected on March 19.
In addition, the health authorities confirmed that one person died in the west of the country, bringing to 45, the total of Haitians killed by the virus that was first detected in China last December and blamed for 370,000 deaths and the infection of 6.5 million others worldwide.
The Alliance for Risk Management and Business Continuity (AGERCA) said “while we are confronted with this global pandemic we must remain vigilant and follow up with the greatest pay attention to weather alerts and combine efforts.
“Some temporary shelters are being used or planned to be used to isolate people who may be carrying the COVID-19. However, in the event of an alert, people who live in areas vulnerable to the risks of flooding, landslides… are received in the latter. It will therefore be necessary to quickly address the problem. Recalling that the Covid-19 pandemic and the hurricane season to manage simultaneously is a “real headache for Haiti”
The coordinator of the Hydro-Meteorological Unit of Haiti (UHM) and the Civil Protection, Marcelin Esterlin, said until November, “Haiti could experience this year between 13 and 19 named systems, 12 medium hurricanes and between three and six major hurricanes”.
The officials said that even before the official start of the hurricane season two storms were formed increasing fears of an above normal six month period.
CMC
