The Department of Health (DS) reported through the COVID-19 surveillance system in the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico a significant increase in community-acquired coronavirus transmission.
The report published on April 7 corresponds to the tests performed between March 25, 2021 – March 31, 2021.
The report showed that “38 municipalities are at the level of high transmission. Kindergartens up to the 12th grade must be exclusively virtual teaching ”.
“The municipalities with high transmission for the period covered by this report are: Aguada, Aguadilla, Cabo Rojo, Camuy, Canóvanas, Carolina, Cataño, Cayey, Ciales, Coamo, Comerío, Corozal, Dorado, Guayanilla, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Jayuya, Juncos, Lares, Las Marías, Loíza, Luquillo, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Quebradillas, Rincón, Río Grande, Sabana Grande, San Juan, San Lorenzo, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Vega Alta and Utuado, ”says the Health report.
On the other hand, 12 municipalities are “at the level of substantial transmission for the period covered by this report are: Adjuntas, Añasco, Barceloneta, Bayamón, Caguas, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Humacao, Las Piedras, San Sebastián, Vega Baja and Yauco .
“This means that schools in these municipalities must adopt mechanisms that guarantee COVID-19 screening tests twice a week for teachers, professors and staff working in these schools. They must also adopt mechanisms to ensure that weekly COVID-19 screening tests are offered to all their students, although they may devise strategies to select at least 10% of their students in hybrid courses. Sampling may be random or selection of all students in certain classes, provided that they represent at least 10% of the student population. These screening tests will be in addition to those that should be given to any student with symptoms, in which case it is recommended that they be diagnostic (or molecular) tests. Before taking the tests, it is necessary to have the consent of the student’s guardians and the minor’s consent “, the DS report indicates.
While 22 municipalities are “at the level of moderate transmission for the period covered by the report. These are: Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barranquitas, Cidra, Florida, Guayama, Guánica, Isabela, Juana Díaz, Lajas, Manatí, Maunabo, Mayagüez, Peñuelas, Ponce, Salinas, Santa Isabel, Vieques, Villalba and Yabucoa “.
“Schools in these municipalities must adopt mechanisms that guarantee COVID-19 screening tests once a week for teachers, professors and staff working in these schools. Likewise, they must adopt mechanisms to ensure that COVID-19 screening tests are offered so as to select at least 10% of their students taking hybrid courses. Sampling can be random or by selecting all students in certain classes, provided that they represent at least 10% of the student population. These screening tests will be in addition to those that should be given to any student with symptoms, in which case it is recommended that they be diagnostic (or molecular) tests. These screening tests will be in addition to those that should be given to any student with symptoms, in which case it is recommended that they be diagnostic (or molecular) tests. Before taking the tests, it is necessary to have the consent of the persons responsible for the student and the consent of the minor.
Finally, six “municipalities are at the reduced transmission level for the period covered by this report. These are: Ceiba, Culebra, Fajardo, Maricao, Patillas and San Germán ”.
“If the Department of Health adopts the strategy of continuous screening tests, schools in these municipalities must adopt mechanisms that guarantee COVID-19 screening tests once a week for teachers, professors and staff working in these schools. These screening tests will be in addition to those that should be given to any student with symptoms, in which case it is recommended that they be diagnostic (or molecular) tests. Before taking the tests, it is necessary to have the consent of the student’s guardians and the minor’s consent “, the health report indicates.