2,600 pregnant women died of COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean: PAHO

Due to the delay in vaccinations, new COVID-19 infections in America are almost twice as fast as they were at the same time last year, says the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

In a press conference on Wednesday, PAHO Director Carissa Etienne stated that only 28 percent of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean are fully vaccinated so far. She blamed the limited supplies for the low numbers.

"While we should celebrate that Canada, Chile, and Uruguay fully have over two-thirds of their populations," Etienne said,

She said a quarter of the countries in the region still have to vaccinate 20 percent of their people. Dr Ettienne said the inequality is very high and unacceptable.

The PAHO Director said Guatemala and Nicaragua did not reach the 10 percent mark in vaccinations, while less than 1 percent of Haiti's population is vaccinated.

As per statistics, about 1.5 million new COVID-19 cases were recorded in America, and more than 22,000 deaths.

Dr Ettiene stated that across America, 270,000 pregnant women had been infected with COVID while 2,600 died.

"Most nations in our region have already recorded more cases and deaths among pregnant women this year than in the whole of 2020," Etienne said, adding that in Mexico and Colombia, COVID-19 is the leading cause of maternal death.

PAHO recommends that pregnant women after the first trimester, as well as those who are breastfeeding, be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Even the United States of America is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 related hospitalizations. The state of Idaho moved on Tuesday to "crisis standards of care," allowing some hospitals to limit health care if they are battling an attack of coronavirus patients.

Idaho has one of the lowest immunization rates in the country, with 39.7 percent of people being fully vaccinated.