Why Dominica is the safest place to be in right now?

Dominica is a small island in the Caribbean with a population of less than 70,000. While the entire world is grappling with COVID-19, this island country has only 1 active COVID-19 case. In fact, the only case is also imported. The country has not reported a single local coronavirus case in the last more than five months. Despite being small and with minimal resources, the country has succeeded in triumphing over the contagious disease that has the entire world on its knees. The first COVID-19 case in Dominica was reported on March 22, 2020, after a 54-year-old man who returned from the United Kingdom tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, over 172 cases have been detected, and 171 have successfully recovered from the disease. No COVID-19 deaths As the island is tiny, and the population resides in close proximity to each other, it was feared that the virus could spread across the country rapidly. However, despite all the speculations, the country proved that it is no less than a billion-dollar economy. While there have been more than 30,00,000 COVID-19 related deaths globally, Dominica reported none. The government and the health infrastructure have been proven to be capable of handling the coronavirus crisis. Virus-testing laboratories When COVID-19 started to spread, PAHO had assigned its teams across the island nations to provide training to the medical staff. Dominica had become the only independent country in the region to have its own COVID-19 testing lab; unlike other countries in the region, the small nation was able to do the testing at its shores. Mandatory quarantine for travellers Global mobility on a larger scale made the virus reach all countries in just a few weeks. While the travelling cannot be entirely halted, it can be controlled with certain limitations. Dominica made 14-quarantine mandatory for all international arrivals, and all people were tested on arrival and on the fifth day of their isolation. The decisions the government took in 2020 ensured the safety of its people as the country is now almost free from contagious disease. Negative PCR-72 hours prior In order to travel to Dominica, all travellers are required to present a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 report not less than 72-hours old. The effort ensured that all people are healthy and free from the virus before entry into Dominica. Vaccine procurement Over 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Oxford COVID-19 vaccine were received by Dominica in February 2021. The Prime Minister was able to use his bilateral ties with India in order to secure vaccine for the wider population. Dominica was able to receive the vaccine before other countries, not only in the region but all across the world. The largest vaccine drive in history on a per capita basis was initiated soon after receiving the doses. Following the doses from India, Dominica also received 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from the People’s Republic of China and around 28,800 doses from the COVAX facility. Achieving herd immunity To receive herd immunity, it is eminent for the country to vaccinate around 70% of its population. So far, the country has immunised 18,194 people with the first dose of vaccine, while 3569 have received the second dose so far. Countries like the United States, the UK, Brazil, India wants to be in a situation where Dominica is right now as these nations are losing hundreds of people daily to COVID-19. The highest number of one-day deaths recorded in Brazil is more than 4000, while India recently lost 2100 lives to COVID-19. The United Kingdom has so far recorded 127,000 deaths which is the highest mark on a per capita basis. Even though these countries are believed to be developed or developing in their own terms, they could not achieve what Dominica has been able to do in terms of controlling the spread of coronavirus. The tiny island nation in the Caribbean has become an illustration that it is not how many resources a country have, but it is about how those resources are utilised.

Why Dominica is the safest place to be in right now?

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