ORANJESTAD — Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes (MEP) today reflected on Aruba’s weekly corona figures. The situation has slightly improved compared to last week, although the positivity rate has increased slightly. Aruba is doing better than sister island Curaçao, where there are more than 500 active cases, she said.

There were 87 active cases last week, there are 84 currently. In the Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH), two corona patients are currently in the general ward, and no one is in intensive care. In Colombia, there are two people in intensive care and one in the general ward. The positivity rate, the number of people who test positive for the total number of tests, is 33 percent. “That indicates that the virus is still there and that it is very important that everyone takes good care of themselves. “On average, there are twenty new cases a day.”

Vaccinations
“Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself,” the Prime Minister reported, pointing out that one can contact the Directorate of Public Health (DVG) free of charge during office hours. You can also contact the mobile unit of the Disaster Relief Agency (BRA). It is currently being cleaned but will be in Noord next week at Compleho Deportivo Frans Figaroa.
The latest vaccination figures presented by the Prime Minister show that 86 percent of people over 60 have now been fully vaccinated, i.e. have had the first two shots with the vaccine against Covid-19. 51 percent have had the third shot. The vaccination rate for people over eighteen is 79 percent for the first two shots and 33 percent for the booster third shot.
For the fourth shot, the second booster, for which people over sixty are already eligible, as well as people over eighteen years and older with a health indication, around 1000 people, have had this.

Holidays
The prime minister also pointed out that the Easter holidays are a popular time for family vacations abroad, but people should take great care to protect themselves abroad. Although the corona measures have been relaxed in Aruba, other countries have their measures in place. For example, to travel to the United States, you must be fully vaccinated and be able to hand over a negative test for corona. She assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation abroad and that there are as yet no worrisome corona variants to take into account.

Camping
Now that it is possible again after two years, many people also go camping with family and friends. “But pay attention because Covid-19 makes no exception for camping. Don’t forget to pay attention and wash your hands regularly. It’s in your hands,” the prime minister said. She also called on society to take good care of the recently renovated beaches. “Leave them intact and take good care of them so that others can enjoy them too.”

CDC
Aruba is also pending on the status change of the travel advisory for Americans by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Aruba is currently on Level 4 (red), which means that travel to Aruba is not advisable. Minister of Tourism Dangui Oduber (MEP) announced before the weekend that the CDC would change the travel advice for Aruba to Level 3 (orange) on Monday, which means that business tourism, in particular, can resume. At the time of this edition, however, the CDC advisory was still in the red.