With Omicron Onslaught Coming, Do We Have Enough Tests?

As the number of cases increases with this Omicron wave that is upon us- the question is, do we have enough tests for the coming COVID storm? Tests are in very high demand worldwide - and with the simultaneous arrival of this latest wave, along with the tourist high season - where every single traveller has to take a test before returning to their country of origin - we wondered if this important tool will be in sufficient supply here in Belize. We asked Technical Advisor Dr. Natalia Largaespada Beer yesterday:

Dr. Natalia L. Beer, Ministry of Health and Wellness
"So the need for testing has increased worldwide, so accessing tests at this point is not that easy and there may be tests with a higher sensitivity, but we have to work with what we have and as we often say if you have any signs and symptoms that may be compatible with Covid19 get tested."

Jules Vasquez
"Do we have sufficient testing materials for the next 2 months, because we know that indeed it may be an onslaught in terms of the number of infections and then we have every tourist has to take a test 24 hours before they leave, it's also the coincidence with the high season as well as the coincidence with the regular flu season. Do we have enough tests to see us through these next few months?"

Dr. Natalia L. Beer, Ministry of Health and Wellness
"From the first notice of Omicron being cause of infections among persons, we have been procuring or started the process to procure more covid19 testing kits, so we don't foresee that there will be a shortage of covid19 test. I don't think in the next 2 months."

Jules Vasquez
"Which test do we have and might we be having a large number of false negative if they are not the most sensitive or acute test?"

Dr. Natalia L. Beer, Ministry of Health and Wellness
"So even though we may have tests that is not the best quality, we have to get the population to do their part and we just can't say the test is not sufficiently sensitive so why use it. No, we must use it, because its the only way we can find out who is positive and then work with them to get them off the streets."

Is KHMH Ready For Another Uptick In Cases?

And while we may have enough tests, do we have enough beds? Research is showing that the Omicron variant may be even more contagious than the Delta - and that normal masks aren't going to protect you as much. But while we've seen a steep increase in new cases, the hospitalizations have been relatively low - so far. We asked the KHMH CEO about her observations.

Chandra Cansino, CEO, KHMH
"Well I can speak certainly for KHMH, and indeed we're seeing a significant decrease in the number of hospitalizations, we're seeing a significant decrease in the number of severe cases and a significant decrease in the number of deaths. So the statistics are correct, we're seeing a decrease in all of the above."

"We have been preparing since we started to see a decrease in numbers, the COVID unit has been preparing with maintenance, the staff has been getting updated with the protocols for management, the physicians are providing the support to the staff, etc. so for our purposes we see an increase in numbers first and then we see an increase in hospitalizations two to three weeks later and then comes the deaths. Omicron is said to be a milder variant so we have yet to see what the result of that will be but it is nothing to be taken lightly, the deaths are increasing across the globe for this strain of the variant s o it's something that we all need to be very much aware of going into the New Year's Eve."

"Fortunately or unfortunately, it's difficult to keep up with the research because the variant is moving so quickly and so yes it's moving so quickly and the research is lagging behind. Research is based on what we experience and so far, remember this is only identified in December, so far it has been mostly milder symptoms, but we don't know what the long term effects will be, unfortunately we have to wait on the research for that so at this time it's not recommended to take any chances whatsoever."

And we noticed in last night's numbers that most of the hospitalizations were fully vaxxed so we asked Cansino about that too. She said that at the KHMH, it's the opposite.

Chandra Cansino, CEO, KHMH
"Those numbers reflect hospitalizations across the country, and including Karl Heusner. For us over the past, let's say the 10 to 12 days, I would say 90% of our hospitalizations have been unvaccinated or first dose. Today we currently have 11 patients in the COVID unit, of which 5 of them are positive for COVID and the rest of them are under investigation."

Reporter
"How many of them are vaccinated?"

Chandra Cansino, CEO, KHMH
"Of those five, only one is vaccinated."

Channel 7