Puerto Rico confirms first three COVID-19 cases amid testing hurdles
Puerto Rican Gov. Wanda Vázquez late Friday confirmed that the island had detected its first three cases of COVID-19.
In a statement, her office said that a 71-year-old man hospitalized in San Juan tested positive, as did an Italian couple, ages 68 and 70, who have been hospitalized since Sunday after disembarking from a cruise ship.
Another five of the island’s suspected 17 cases came back negative, she said.
UPDATE: Puerto Rico health secretary resigns, school canceled amid coronavirus cases and hurdles
Earlier in the day, Vázquez had lashed out at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for taking so long to produce results. The government claims it sent its first batch of suspected cases on Monday.
“It’s unacceptable that Puerto Rico still doesn’t have results from the tests it sent to the CDC regarding COVID-19,” she wrote on Twitter Friday morning. “The health of our people is a high priority, and the results are urgent.”
CBS Television reported that the CDC was claiming that the samples sent by Puerto Rico were in poor condition and missing information. And in a statement to the Miami Herald late Friday, the CDC said its “goal is to test, and report results within 48 hours of all samples received in the proper condition and accompanied by accurate documentation. We understand the concerns that uncertainty can bring and are working diligently in processing all tests as quickly as possible.”
The island reported its first suspected COVID-19 case on Sunday, when the Italian woman was checked into the hospital with pneumonia. She and her husband had been traveling on the Costa Luminosa cruise ship.
Since then, suspected cases have mushroomed.
Health Secretary Rafael Rodríguez said Puerto Rico wasn’t alone in demanding answers from the CDC.
“All 50 states and territories are in the same situation,” he said of the delays. “We’re not the only ones with this problem.”
The federal government and the CDC have been criticized for not making tests broadly available, as quick detection is seen as one of the keys to slowing the spread of the virus.
Frustrated by the slow pace, some states have turned to private labs to get results. But that’s not an option in Puerto Rico, where the testing technology doesn’t exist, Rodríguez said.
Late Friday, the local health department said it had received the materials to begin testing for the coronavirus in its own labs.
On Thursday, Vázquez declared a state of emergency, banned large gatherings and ordered the National Guard to screen incoming passengers.
Puerto Rico may be particularly susceptible to the coronavirus, which can be lethal for the infirm and the elderly. The island’s hospitals have been stressed by years of natural disasters and economic malaise, and the population is aging.
According to U.S. Census figures, 20.7% of the island’s population is over 65 years old. If it were a state, it would be the oldest in the union, ahead of Maine (20.6%), Florida (20.5%) and West Virginia (19.9%).
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
