16/04/2020

The population of all of the islands of the Caribbean is just under 44 million, covering an approximately one million square mile area of land and sea.  Currently the confirmed Caribbean coronavirus cases as of today, April 16 is 7,002:

Dominican Republic-3,755 cases,196 deaths, 215 recovered 

Puerto Rico- 1,043 cases, 56 deaths 

Cuba- 862 cases, 27 deaths, 171 recovered 

Martinique-159 cases, 8 deaths, 73 recovered 

Guadeloupe-145 cases, 8 deaths, 68 recovered 

Jamaica- 143 cases, 5 deaths, 21 recovered  

Trinidad and Tobago- 114 cases, 8 deaths, 20 recovered 

French Guiana- 96 cases, 61 recovered  

Aruba- 93 cases, 1 death, 32 recovered  

Barbados- 75 cases, 5 deaths, 15 recovered 

Cayman Islands- 60 cases, 1 death, 6 recovered  

Sint Maarten- 57 cases, 9 deaths, 12 recovered  

Guyana- 57 cases, 6 deaths, 9 recovered  

Bahamas- 53 cases, 8 deaths, 6 recovered  

US Virgin Islands- 51 cases, 1 death, 46 recovered 

Haiti- 43 cases, 3 deaths, 1 recovered  

Saint Martin- 35 cases, 2 deaths, 13 recovered  

Antigua and Barbuda- 23 cases, 3 deaths, 3 recovered 

Belize- 18 cases, 2 deaths  

Dominica- 16 cases, 8 recovered  

Saint Lucia- 15 cases, 11 recovered 

Curacao-14 cases, 1 death, 10 recovered  

Grenada-14 cases  

Saint Kitts and Nevis- 14 cases  

St Vincent and the Grenadines- 12 cases, 1 recovered  

Montserrat- 11 cases, 1 recovered  

Turks and Caicos- 11 cases, 1 death,  

Suriname- 10 cases, 1 death, 6 recovered 

Saint Barthelemy-6 cases, 4 recovered 

British Virgin Islands- 4 cases, 2 recovered

Anguilla- 3 cases, 1 recovered 

Sint Eustatius- 2 cases 

Saba- 2 cases 

Although the number of cases may be much lower than some of the other countries being hit by coronavirus,  the resources of the islands are limited.

With the Caribbean economy relying heavily on tourism, hotels and cruise lines are currently shut down and the islands are suffering. In times of crisis, food shortage due to the physical separation is an issue in many Caribbean countries. All of the islands rely on shipping for imports, such as food and medicine.With global shipping having slowed down worldwide, imports to the islands have been halted. The closest mainland to the islands is up to 1,300 miles away, and with fewer flights between the islands and the states, access to food, healthcare, and supplies becomes a life-threatening issue. For instance, Turks and Caicos is comprised of over 100 small islands. If individuals become ill on one island, the reduction in  transportation facilities will lead to healthcare shortages, including COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Covid-19 has been causing a disproportionate amount of cases and deaths in the African American population.  For instance, according to CDC, Chicago Department of Public Health, 33% of those hospitalised are African Americans,13%of the US population is African American, 68% of coronavirus deaths in Chicago were African American.  We don't have enough data to determine the  demographic distribution of illnesses and deaths on Caribbean islands, but in the upcoming months the numbers will emerge.