Category Archives: Caribbean

Media: Illustration by Joshua Sun

As more residents in the tropics confine themselves to their homes this winter because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase when America sneezes, the Caribbean catches a cold comes to mind.

By Shannon Garrido November 23, 2020

As inauguration day approaches, leaders of Caribbean countries are coming together to congratulate the newly elected president, Joe Biden. As we move from an administration that strained international relations these past four years, I wonder what the inauguration will mean for relations between the United States and the Caribbean?

Keep in mind that the Biden-Harris ticket is focused on bringing together a country that has been riddled by political polarization and civil unrest. Under Biden, immigration policies instituted by the Trump administrationlike family separation, the dismantling of asylum, and the suspension of temporary protected status (TPS)may be reversed.

A predictable and humane approach to immigration has long been important in the exercise of regional soft power, according to the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Better treatment of immigrants and a decisive move away from negative rhetoric on migrants could help restore positive perceptions of the U.S. in Latin America and the Caribbean.

As more residents in the tropics confine themselves to their homes this winter because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase when America sneezes, the Caribbean catches a cold comes to mind.

Being the regions largest trading partner and source of tourism44 percent of Caribbean tourists come from the U.S.Americans and American policy significantly impacts the Caribbeans economy.

Carribean countries are forced to suffer the consequences of the United States mishandling of the pandemic. Many Caribbean countries that are dependent on U.S. tourist arrivals have had to classify the U.S. as a high risk country because of the Trump administrations inability to contain the pandemic. With more than 200,000 Americans confirmed dead, Trump has not attended a single meeting of his COVID task force in five months. Latest data show that for the first two months of the summer 2020, there was a 99.1 percent decline in regional tourism.

A better coordinated federal approach to the current coronavirus infection and death rate should benefit Caribbean countries whose tourism sectors have been hit by the virus. The CDC has since placed all but 6 out of the 35 states and territories in the Caribbean as high-risk territories. Biden has voiced support for flight bans and restrictions if the science says so, meaning an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He also plans to reduce the number of cases in the U.S., therefore protecting countries that receive large amounts of American tourists.

Under a Biden administration, remittance flows, money or other assets that foreign workers send to their home countries, are not at risk. On March 29, 2016 during his first campaign, Trump threatened to ban remittances. This was in the hopes it would force Mexico to pay for the border wall. Remittances came up again recently with Trump suggesting a toll for cross-border traffic. He also suggested a new tax on remittances.

Since Biden is opposed to the border wall and has claimed to want to heal diplomatic relations, hed have no reason to use the remittance corridor as a forcing mechanism. Biden has called for an easing on restrictions to remittances to other countries, like Cuba. Under Obama, remittances helped fostered the expansion of Cubas private sector, a Biden adviser who spoke to Reuters added that the incoming president wants to empower the Cuban people. Caribbean countries are amongst the primary receivers of remittances. In Latin America and the Caribbeanmaking up a region where in many cases economic conditions are badremittances rose to $74.3 billion,

The Dominican Republic received the most remittances by far: a total of $4.65 billion in 2014. Jamaica receives 2.26 billion USD each year, followed by Haiti, which receives 1.9 billion dollars. Estimates suggest that the total number of Haitians in diaspora varied from 1.5 million to 4 million. Research conducted by the ACP Observatory on Migration showed that Haitian families depending on remittances can easily fall into poverty when these flows are interrupted.

A study carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank out in Central American and Caribbean countries has shown that 72 percent of remittances are used to cover daily costs, 7 percent on savings, 6 percent on education, and 1.8 percent on the acquisition of housing.

Monetary remittances have a direct impact on the socioeconomic and employment structure of the Caribbean region. Recipient households generally have higher levels of consumer spending and lower incidences of extreme poverty than their counterparts who do not receive remittances.

In the end, there is no telling what a Biden administration can mean for other countries. Many have pointed out that his foreign policy is rather ambiguous, and its possible that not much will change in terms of diplomatic relations in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of hope for those who feared a second Trump term.

Shannon Garrido is a journalism major from the class of 2024. If you would like to respond to this thought piece in the form of a letter to the editor, email [emailprotected] Letters may be edited for style and clarity.

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What Biden's win means for key industries in the Caribbean countries - Berkeley Beacon

Admittedly, we all chow down around the holidays. It does not matter whether we are Caribbean -American or African-American. Some of us make a conscious decision to go on a diet before Thanksgiving and Christmas so that we can make room for the extra calories that we are going to consume. And from Thanksgiving to sometime after New Years Day, we feel like we have a free pass to eat whatever we want.

Turkey, stuffing, candied yams, ham, mac and cheese, rice and peas, a little curried chicken, jerk chicken on the side. We are determined that a little bit oh heck a lot of everything is gonna fit on our plates and we are gonna have ourselves a good ole eatin time, even if we feel like we are busting at the seams.

We didnt eat like that back home. Most of us rarely had seconds at the dinner table. The majority of Caribbean folks who lived in rural areas on the islands would be consider working-class people. We mostly had feasts for weddings and funerals. We ate extremely healthy meals. We did not eat a whole lot of processed foods because nature is what we had. We picked fruits from the trees in our yards or harvest food and root vegetables from the land.

It was not until moving to the United States that we all started developing stomach ailments such as acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, gastric issues, Crohns disease and other diseases that we never heard of.

Folks need to get control of their newly developed eating habits and reel them back in. Get serious about eating healthy and about addressing our stomach issues head on. Do not act like it does not exist. We gave this advice before, but it is worth reiterating. We have to make a conscious decision to eat breakfast like a king or queen, eat lunch like a prince or a princess, and dinner like a pauper. What does that mean, well it means that we need to flip your meals and eat our heaviest meal in the morning, a somewhat lighter meal for lunch and an even lighter meal (breakfast food) or a smoothie for dinner.

How can we possibly eat a super-light dinner during the holidays? Well, it just takes some self-control and planning ahead. We can take a look at the Thanksgiving spread on the table and choose to put healthy portions on our plate.

Choose to put a tablespoon or two of candied yams on the plate, a couple tablespoons of greens/callaloo, a small slice of turkey or a small (palm-sized) piece of meat on the plate and just enjoy it. When you are finished eating, grab yuh takeout container and pack it full ah rice and peas, curry goat, some turkey, some more candied yams, oxtails, greens. Take all that good food home and enjoy it for the next two mornings at your king-sized breakfast. Give yourself all day to digest it.

On the University of Technologys Institute of Food Technology Warsaw website, an assistant professor points out that when you eat breakfast does matter. She said that people should eat breakfast within an hour of waking up because then, the level of glucose in our bodies is really low and we need to boost it by eating a balanced, wholesome meal.

In addition, she pointed out that it is easier to digest food in the mornings because the gastric juices in the stomach are flowing more. Remember that eating breakfast on a regular basis increases the metabolism and contributes to weight loss or weight maintenance so it can be done.

Turkey Day may not be a traditional Caribbean holiday but since it is now a part of our American family celebration every year, we most certainly can bring our own flavor to it. And for those of us that are dealing with stomach ailments, we can still eat with our families and not have to suffer by eating the wrong foods and over-stuffing our plates just because we can. Here are some suggestions for eating a king-sized healthy breakfast as a regular part of your diet:

Caribbean dishes that will make you feel like a champion as you cut back on the grease: Steamed cabbage (or callaloo) and saltfish is a good meat dish substitute. Ackee and saltfish always yum!! Add a boiled egg for extra protein. Another popular dish is steamed fish topped with lots of chopped onions, tomatoes, okra, carrot and celery. Adding Grace fish soup mix for flavor is amazing. Unprocessed carbs that are commonly served with these dishes are boiled green bananas, boiled yams (AKA Name) yellow or white. Chicken broth is a great substitute for oil or margarine. Or use a healthy oil, such as coconut oil (scientists have confirmed the benefits of coconut oil).

Consult your physician before making any changes to your diet.

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Best to eat wisely in stuffing yourself on Turkey Day - The Philadelphia Tribune

The recently-expanded Boardwalk Boutique Hotel in Aruba has launched a rather clever new amenity: a floating breakfast.

For guests staying the propertys Plunge Pool Casita, the hotel will deliver a special floating breakfast package with fresh juices, tropical fruit, pastries, two main courses and coffee or tea on a floating tray right in your pool. (Theres also an option of Prosecco or mimosas).

The breakfast is prepared by popular local spot Eduardos Beach Shack.

This new experience is the ideal collaboration with Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, serving healthy, nourishing food and beverages in a pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens, says Nikita Pablo, experience officer at Eduardos Beach Shack, which has also partnered with the resort for a range of culinary options from room service to en-suite breakfast delivery.

The Boardwalk unveiled the results of a major expansion to the property at the end of last year, one that included the addition of 32 new casitas, among other upgrades.

You can find Arubas latest entry protocols for visitors here.

For more, visit Boardwalk Boutique Hotel.

The rest is here:

How to Have a Floating Breakfast in Aruba Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

The Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) recently launched a series of activities aimed at keeping the region foremost on the minds of would-be travelers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a series of recent activities potential visitors to the Caribbean along with travel advisers who sell holidays to the region received a virtual taste of some of the many Caribbean experiences though a series of activities that will highlight the diversity of the Caribbean tourism product.

The CTO said the activities which were held in collaboration with member states, under the theme The Caribbean Awaits.

According to the CTO, included live demonstrations on to all it source markets in the United Kingdom and the United States during which some of the regions most talented mixologists and chefs prepared and displayed their unique blends and aromatic flavors.

The demonstrations were followed by a virtual learning session at which CTO member countries were able to share updates and unique selling points with travel advisers who sell holidays to the Caribbean.

These activities are part of a program in observance of Caribbean Tourism Month, which also includes a social media campaign aimed at maintaining the Caribbeans prominence as a place of solace as COVID-19 continues to impact the global travel and tourism industry, the CTO said.

It said throughout the month of November, the general public is being encouraged to share on social media, the things they cant wait to experience in the Caribbean, using the hashtag #TheCaribbeanAwaits.

The CTO has also launched a photo and video campaign reflecting the theme to promote excitement about the Caribbean.

Introduced in 2011, Caribbean Tourism Month has as its primary objective as the creation of opportunities to raise awareness among the people of the Caribbean about the importance of tourism to the development of the region.

This years observance holds special significance due to the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, the CTO added.

Tourism a major earner of domestic revenue and foreign exchange in most Caribbean nations has taken a battering as a result of the global travel restrictions necessitated by COVID-19, and the CTO is aiming that the tourism industry will experience some rebounding during the winter season, a traditional buoyant season for Caribbean tourism.

Read more from the original source:

Caribbean Destinations are Being Kept Foremost in the Minds of Tourists - caribbeannationalweekly.com

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC The Barbados-based Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum is predicting that a cool and less intense early dry season will occur in the Caribbean.

The dry season runs from about February to June.

In its December 2020 to February 2021 Caribbean Climate Outlook Newsletter, the agency said that La Nia conditions are in place leading to the cool and less intense early dry season except in The Bahamas and Cuba.

La Nia refers to the large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, coupled with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation, namely winds, pressure, and rainfall.

It usually has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as El Nio, which is the warm phase of the so-called El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

In Belize and the Islands, flooding, flash flood, landslide, rockfall, and soil erosion potential will decrease from moderate in December to slight by January. In the Guianas, this potential will be high with an intense wet season the forum noted.

It said that increasingly frequent, short dry spells are forecast especially from Hispaniola westward -impacting unprotected crop farming and increasing wildfire potential.

Meanwhile, it said that from November 1, severe orworseshorter term droughthasdevelopedinwesternPuertoRico,buteased inthe previouslyaffectedarea.

Long-term drought should not be a significant concern in most-affected areas by the end of May in most areas.

However, at the end of May,long-termdroughtshouldevolveinsouthernpartsof Belizeandnorthwest Puerto Rico,andmaypossiblydeveloporpersist in eastern Cuba, eastern Dominican Republic, and southeast Puerto Rico.

In a brief climate outlook, the forum said that from March to May next year, the second half of the 2020-21 dry season when water availability usually reaches its annual minimum may still be influenced by La Nia.

Wetter than usual conditions are likely in Barbados, Belize, the Guianas, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Windward Islands. However, it may end up even drier than usual in much of the Greater Antilles.

Frequent dry spells may impact crop production, though less so in the areas ending up wetter than usual.

Temperatures usually remain comfortable through March, but tend to increase into the start of the heat season in April, it added.

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Cool and less intense early dry season for the Caribbean - Jamaica Gleaner

MIAMI (CMC) The University of Miami (UM) says Caribbean countries are exploring new ideas and directions in order to recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Due to its geographic terrain, the university said the Caribbean has fared relatively well from a health standpoint in managing the COVID-19 virus .

Yet, the region has suffered economic devastation due to its historic dependence on trade and tourism, said the university, referring to experts from The University of the West Indies (UWI), one of 14 member colleges of the Hemispheric University Consortium, which participated in a webinar hosted by the University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas.

Felicia Knaul, director of UMs Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, economist, and public health expert, moderated a virtual conversation together with three UWI representatives: Sandeep B Maharaj, associate dean of distance education, projects and planning; Jan Yves Remy, an international trade lawyer and deputy director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre; and Clive Landis, pro-vice-chancellor for undergraduate studies and chair of the UWI COVID-19 Task Force.

Landis noted that the region has been developing its viral laboratories and improving testing systems in recent years and moved quickly to exploit its natural advantagethat many countries and territories are island nationsto limit spread, according to UM.

Testing, contact tracing and isolation really working, and our testing capacity has been our backbone, Landis said. Some countries closed their borders before one death and some closed before one case; we were able to make use of the fact that were an island archipelago and get on top of this first wave.

UM said the improved testing capacity owes in large part to the creation of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which combined five regional health institutes into one entity that has been serving 24 Caribbean countries and territories since January 2013.

Maharaj pointed to data showing that CARPHA countries have fared better in terms of percentages of people infected 0.3 percent compared with 0.7 percent globally; for those who have recovered 77.1 compared with 64.7 percent worldwide.

Percentages of those who have died from COVID-19 were also less than global averages, said Maharau, noting that, despite the viruss devastation, a number of successes have resulted,

He said migrant populations in Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere are now starting to be served by the health system, the health system mobilized quickly and repurposed its workforce, and technology for telemedicine expanded.

These shifts offer immense opportunity to change the Caribbean positively, but we must be able to continue to be innovative and creative as we move ahead, Maharaj said.

Remy said that according to UM, that pre-existing challenges such as the dependence on trade and foreign investment, particularly with the United States, and the fact that many Caribbean countries are debtor nations have exacerbated the economic hardship.

She said the implementation of the US Defense Production Act in early April prompted a blockage of needed personal protection equipment and other medical supplies from the United States.

The pandemic paralyzed the regions export sectors, the tourism sector is decimated, and 50 percent of the workforce continues to struggle, said Remy, noting that, unlike the United States, regional governments can offer little or no stimulus support to individuals.

Remy added that there is reason for optimism The nascent tech community showed creative solutions, especially for local banks, said Remy, adding that lots of companies are moving their brick-and-mortar stores online.

These are new opportunities, she continued, stating also that the local rum industry repurposed alcohol to be used as much-needed hand sanitizer.

Weve seen some great ideas, but we have to find ways to reclaim our industrial policy, better leverage trade agreements, and develop local capacity for food and medical responses, Remy said. We have to think about new economies to take our economies out of chronic debt and create viable new sectors.

Remy stressed that the Government cannot do this alone, stating that she was encouraged by actions from Huawei, the Chinese firm that has invested in the UWI innovation lab.

Both Landis and Knaul recognized the role that Barbados played in serving as an isolation center to help 11 cruise ships repatriate their COVID-19-infected crews, UM said.

The fact that a small island nation did a global public good is something the world needs to hear about, said Knaul said, stating that the ships utilized the hospital systems that are part of the UWI.

So, this is a global debt to the Caribbean and to the UWI, she said. Its another reason why we might think about debt relief for the region.

See the rest here:

Caribbean nations explore new ideas to recover from pandemic - NYCaribNews

Test cruises are the precursor to the regular cruises starting up again, so it is no surprise so many people are fixated on when they might start and what needs to be done onboard.

Interest in test cruises has been so high that Royal Caribbean started taking sign ups for volunteers (although there has not been any information on if/when they will be needed).

So what do cruise lines have to do during these test cruises? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)has outlined as series of steps test sailings must do in order to demonstrate new cruise line protocols meant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 work well.

TheFramework for Conditional Sailing lists therequirements for test cruises to complete, so here is what any cruise ship conducting a test cruise will need to do.

Read more:Here's what Royal Caribbean will require guests to do for first cruises back in Singapore

Getting guests safely onboard the ship at the beginning of the cruise, and off the ship at the conclusion of the sailing is a basic requirement for test sailings.

Cruise lines must conduct the terminal check-in process so that all of the cruise terminal protocols can be tested.

Test cruises need to be as close to the "real thing" as possible, so cruise lines cannot just test out new protocols without engaging in typical cruise ship activities.

The CDC wants as close to real world experiences as they can, so that is why volunteer guests are needed and why cruise lines cannot simply do just the required drills and call it a success.

If a cruise ship visits a private island (such as Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas), excursions need to be offered to simulate the process of guests going on a tour.

Shore excursions are big business for cruise lines, and a major component of the cruise experience. New protocols have been added for shore excursions, and as a result these protocols need to be tested if a ship visits a port.

Early cruises once they restart are expected to call upon private islands on short sailings, so it is important to test these tour protocols as well.

The reality is positive cases are to be expected onboard a cruise ship, and therefore, getting guests off the ship safely andexpeditiously is important.

Cruise ships must be able to test how they will get guest(s) off the ship without disrupting other guests, or exposing anyone else.

One of the first steps when a positive case is identified is how to quickly isolate and quarantine that person.

After someone tests positive forSARSCoV-2, they need to be moved fromcabins to isolation rooms without infecting or exposing anyone else along the way.

If there was an outbreak on the ship, unexposed passengers and crew need to be able to be quarantined to prevent further infections.

This is a "catch-all" for anything else the CDC may deem necessary later on.

When the Conditional Sail Order was drafted, the federal agency knew more tasks would be needed, so it left room to add other requirements in the wording.

Test cruises mustmeet standards for the hygiene of passengers and crew members to ensure they are properly protecting each other.

This includes anyone onboard following CDC regulated orders related toproper

When a test cruise serves meals onboard or engages in entertainment, it must be done with social distancing in mind.

Dining and entertainment venues must be set up to facilitate social distancing, so changes to these venues would be necessary.

A lab test of all passengers and crew members must be completed on embarkation and disembarkation day to ensure there are no positive cases.

These tests must be made available before the passenger gets onboard the ship as well as before they leave the ship to go elsewhere.

The CDC says crew and passengers will alsobe laboratory tested again after they depart the ship.

Additional laboratory testingduring the cruise may be required by the CDC, but it is not required as of now.

If a passenger or crew member reports a symptom that could possibly be COVID-19, the ship must immediately conduct laboratory testingwith rapid point-of-care results.

Contact tracing must also be conducted to ensure anyone who had close contact is not infected either.

If necessary, the CDC can order a cruise line to immediately end a test cruise.

If COVID-19 is found on a test cruise, the CDC reserves the right to conduct any action it deems necessary toprotect the health and safety of volunteer passengers and crew.

If a new protocol does not work well (or at all), the ship must report these issues through an "after-action" report and address how they will address those deficiencies before they can apply to offer passenger sailings.

This after-action report must also include test results for any volunteer passengers or crew on the simulated voyage. The after-action report must be submitted to the CDC as soon as practicable at the end of the simulation and as part of the cruise ship operators application for a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate.

Even after a cruise line finishes its test sailings, the CDC reserves the right to request a cruise line modify new rules.

It can also requireadditional simulated voyages prior to giving a ship approval to restart sailings.

Link:

Top 14 things the CDC requires cruise ships do on test sailings - Royal Caribbean Blog

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and the IGLTA Foundation are supporting a new initiative called the Caribbean Influencer Programa multi-year effort to form a strong network of business leaders who work to advance LGBT rights and inclusion in the region.

The program is being led by Open For Business, a coalition of multinational corporations working to advance LGBT rights and economic empowerment globally. Presently, members of the LGBT community visiting the Caribbean can run up against certain social attitudes towards their sexual orientation or gender identity, leading to a less-than-ideal travel experience.

The Caribbean Influencer Program consists of two phases, the first being a research phase that will help to build a strong business-minded and economic case for increased LGBT acceptance and inclusion in the Caribbean.

For the second phase, Open For Business will be building a sustainable network of business leaders who can present the case for societal acceptance of the LGBT community while collaborating with civil society and policymakers, using the research as proof of the need for action.

Thanks to their rich and varied histories, Caribbean nations truly represent a patchwork of landscapes, cultures and social values and attitudes, with some being more resistant to the idea of LGBT inclusion than others. Open For Business target countries include Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; Saint Lucia; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Trinidad and Tobago.

Open For Business is developing this high-quality research report to clearly demonstrate to business leaders, politicians, civil society and media how LGBT inclusion contributes to business and economic growth. Through three separate research methods, the organization will examine four specific demographics: the LGBT community in these 12 Caribbean countries, the LGBT Caribbean diaspora, business leaders in the Caribbeans key sectors and prospective LGBT to the Caribbean.

The coalition is inviting anyone who is LGBT and residing in or originating from any of these 12 English-speaking Caribbean countries to complete its 15-minute, online Caribbean Survey. At the end of the survey, participants can also enter a drawing to win a free Apple Watch. The survey will be accepting submissions until December 4, 2020.

For more information, visit open-for-business.org/caribbean.

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IGLTA Promoting LGBTQ+ Social and Economic Inclusion in the Caribbean - TravelPulse

"Widespread testing is key to unlocking international borders and safely reopening global travel. This is particularly important for our customers in Houston, who rely on United to keep them connected with their family and friends in Latin America and the Caribbean," said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer for United.

"We'll continue to lead the way on testing United was the first to announce a customer COVID-19 testing program and the first to offer free tests on flights across the Atlantic and we'll look at new, innovative ways to make the travel experience even safer."

The self-collected, mail-in COVID-19 test is $119. The test will be administered by Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) and processed at their COVID-19 testing laboratory in San Antonio, Texas. United will reach out to customers 14 days ahead of their flights to provide instructions on ordering a test and the testing process. United encourages customers to research the local requirements for further questions specific to their destination. Customers are advised to take the tests 72 hours before departure and should expect to receive results via email within 24-48 hours of mailing in their test.

"As the energy capital of the world and most diverse city in the United States, Houston plays an influential role in linking global economies," said Sylvester Turner, City of Houston mayor.

"As we fight against a second wave of the coronavirus, the private and public sectors, with guidance from public health experts, must work collaboratively and judiciously to reopen the global economy. Although a vaccine would be the ultimate solution, United's expansion of its customer testing program is a step in the right direction. I commend United for their leadership and forward-thinking."

ADL's self-collection kit includes a plastic tube, a nasal swab and instructions on how to properly collect a specimen. ADL's telehealth system will be available to support customers traveling to countries that require a health care professional to supervise the COVID-19 test. United has worked closely with officials in each country to ensure that any customer both visitors and nationals returning home who tests negative will be able to enter the country.

"Accurate and reliable testing is not only critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19, but essential in helping get this virus under control," said Stan Crawford, chief operations officer for ADL.

"We are invested in United's commitment to ensuring customers not only meet their destination's entry requirements but that, when they do travel, they do so in a way that is safer."

In addition to adding another key element to its layered approach to safety, United has also seen a positive impact on travel demand and significant increases in customer load factors and revenue when testing options are available. For example, after United announced its COVID-19 test for customers traveling from San Francisco to Hawaii and allowing them to avoid a 14-day quarantine, the airline saw a nearly 95% increase in passengers compared to the prior two-week period. Last week, United launched the world's first free transatlantic COVID-19 testing pilot between Newark Liberty International Airport and London Heathrow Airport. Through this pilot program, all crew members and customers over the age of two on select flights will be required to take a rapid COVID-19 test and provide a negative result in order to take the flight, ensuring that everyone on board over the age of two has tested negative before departure.

Read more from the original source:

United to Offer COVID-19 Testing to Latin American and Caribbean Destinations - FTNnews.com

KEY FIGURES

4M+ PEOPLE IN HONDURAS AFFECTED BY TROPICAL STORM ETA AND HURRICANE IOTA

1.2M+ PEOPLE IN GUATEMALA AFFECTED BY TROPICAL STORM ETA AND HURRICANE IOTA

CENTRAL AMERICA: 2020 HURRICANE SEASON

Iota struck Central America as a Category 4 hurricane on 17 November, degrading quickly from a major storm to remnants of a tropical depression along a path nearly identical to Eta and causing even more flooding and wind damage in many communities in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala still recovering from Eta.

NICARAGUA

The Government quickly deployed teams to conduct evaluations and restore water, access and telecommunications services. Officials indicate affected families are returning to their communities, citing that only 10,400 people remain in shelters, down from a peak of 160,000 before Iota.

Government officials continue to deliver supplies to affected communities, including zinc roofing sheets as part of a plan to distribute 270,000 sheets. Transport authorities say they are close to restoring access to Bilwi, cut off due to the overflowing of the Wawa river, while the Puerto Cabezas seaport reconstruction is underway. Nearly all telecommunications services have been restored. Public health brigades have so far reached 120,000 people.

HONDURAS

Per the Permanent Commission for Contingencies (COPECO), the combined impacts of Eta and Iota will have ultimately affected more than 4 million people between Etas impact on 3.4 million people and Iotas impact on more than 738,000 people. There are still 185,000 people estimated to be isolated due to access constraints. COPECO, who reports that there are about 30,500 people still actively working in rescue and salvage operations, says they are still conducting evaluations as weather conditions improve.

Official COPECO information cites 969 shelters hosting 88,700 people. The civil protection authority continue to urge people from communities still at high flood risk to stay in shelters until it is safe to return. Although Iota has cleared Central America, COPECO is keeping all departments under red alert due to soil saturation.

GUATEMALA

The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) reports that Iota has raised the number of people directly affected by the November storms to more than 1.2 million people, the overall death toll to 59 people and the sheltered population to more than 31,600 in official shelters and nearly 202,800 in unofficial shelters. Iota affected nearly all departments in Guatemala, with the northern and eastern departments previously affected by Eta accounting for the most impact, notably Alta Verapaz and Izabal.

Per inter-sectoral evaluations on Etas impact, about 90,000 people in affected neighbourhoods will require WASH response, including restoration of water wells, safe water and hygiene supplies. Alta Verapaz and Izabal report about 17,400 and 12,000 homes with moderate to severe damage, respectively, indicating that those returning home will require tools and supplies for recovery. Many of these households also lost food reserves and crops and are in danger of facing severe food insecurity upon leaving shelters to return to their homes.

Read more:

Latin America & The Caribbean - Weekly Situation Update (16-22 November 2020) As of 23 November 2020 - Honduras - ReliefWeb