BRIDGETOWN, SINT MAARTEN – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Carissa F Etienne, on Sunday expressed concern for the region’s capacity to deal with an outbreak of COVID-19, as cases of the coronavirus are confirmed in three countries.

Of the 60 countries that have reported cases worldwide, Etienne said there are three cases in the Dominican Republic, two cases in St Maarten and one case in St Barts.

“The outlook for the CARICOM region therefore, there is a high likelihood that we will see cases in the sub-region, It’s already here,” Etienne said via video conference at a press conference in Barbados.

“The World Health Organization does have great concern for the situation in some countries, particularly those countries with weak health systems.”

Sunday’s press conference followed a special meeting hosted by Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, to discuss ways of protecting the region from COVID-19.

Etienne said in the Caribbean, several countries have the capacity to test for COVID-19.

These include Barbados, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Jamaica, Belize, Bahamas and Haiti.

Martinique, French Guiana, Curaçao, Aruba and St Martin and the British territories of Cayman and Bermuda also have capacity for testing.

“Our work in the region is to strengthen member states capacity to detect, to contain and to manage cases,” the PAHO Director said.

“We believe that there is some capacity in the region but there is work that is necessary to ensure maximum capacity in the Caribbean region.”