While there has been a slight decrease in infections over the last week, it is still too early to tell.
Bonaire’s active COVID-19 cases show a slight decrease in infections this week. However, Bonaire’s government has determined that more time is needed to see if the numbers continue to decline.
Below is a transcript of the latest press release.
The infection figures in the week of January 17, 2022, are lower than the week before, but it is still too early to talk about an actual decrease in infections. Dr Loes Jaspers of the Public Health Department announced after examining the number of infections from January 1 to January 23, 2022. In the week of January 17, 2022, fewer tests were performed compared to the week before. Less testing also means fewer cases of infections are found. Therefore, it is wise to wait and see whether last week’s decline continues in the coming period.
Of the people who became infected with the Omicron variant up to and including January 23, 2022, 30% were 0-19 years old. In the week of January 17, 2022, the number of infections among children aged 4-11 years increased significantly. In fact, it doubled compared to the week of January 10, 2022. The number of people over 60 who became infected increased slightly in the week of January 17, 2022, while the number of people aged 20-59 decreased compared to the other age groups.
So far, 21 infected people have been hospitalized since the arrival of the Omicron variant at the end of 2021. The average age of the infected people who have been hospitalized is 61 years old. People over 60 years old have the highest risk of hospitalization if infected with the Omicron variant compared to other age groups. This was also the case with the Delta variant.
Half of the people hospitalized with the Omicron variant since the end of 2021 had not received the two vaccination shots. With the Delta variant, 22% of the corona patients admitted to the hospital had received the two vaccination shots. In people who have had the two vaccination shots, the protection against COVID-19 decreases after a while.
That is why Public Health advises people who have already obtained the two vaccination shots to get the booster shot. So far, no people who have had the booster shot due to COVID-19 have been hospitalized. This means that the booster shot protects well against serious complaints when someone becomes infected with the Omicron variant. The booster shot also protects well against hospitalization.
Do you have complaints or have a positive test result from a self-test? Then call 0800 0800 to make a test appointment. Have you not yet received the two vaccinations or the booster shot? Call 0800 0900 to make a vaccination appointment.
