Re-strategizing the COVID-19 Response

Marvin Manzanero

The sharp increase in cases since the end of last month into October was anticipated given certain private functions and activities that were held during the month of September.  The epidemiological team from the Ministry of Health has been looking at data trying to address the rising cases.  It is suggested that the country is only now seeing the real wave of the coronavirus. Doctor Manzanero says that outside of re-strategizing, it is about a collective approach from the community, law enforcement and the health system.

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“I think now is when we are having the real wave and what is going to come over the next two or three weeks because it is more than what we had perhaps in July, middle of August; numbers are starting to increase. So I don’t know if it only requires re-strategizing on behalf of the Ministry of Health, but what other people are doing. I mean you still see situations where and we have been saying how you can prevent and minimize your risk and it seems like we are really not. We still see people doing all kinds of things, exposing themselves in all kinds of ways, shapes and forms.  You have to know that there is only so much that you are able to do from the Ministry of Health, from the police standpoint, from everybody’s stand point.  As harsh as it may seem, more people are going to die and that’s simply where we are headed because I don’t know that we have really zoned in on the message. You drive away from the office and you still see people on the street drinking, not even in groups of ten, but I am sure from different circles. And you know there’s regulations there, it is in law that you should not be having more than ten and it still happens. So there is only so much.”