COVID-19 Pandemics in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories

Abstract

By the middle of February 2021, the COVID-19 pandemicsCovid-19 are still ongoing. Globally, 110 million cases have been recorded. More than 2.4 million people have died from the disease caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. Figures presented in this chapter are taken from the WHO database (WHO 2021), except those from Hawai’i (New York Times database 2021) and Easter Island (France24 2021). All currencies have been converted into USD using Oanda database (Oanda 2020) as of February 9, 2021. In many Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT), however, morbidityMorbidity and mortalityMortality have been low. Most PICs have no cases. Where cases exist, mortalityMortality has been low with a few exceptions. That being said, social and economic consequencesEconomic consequences are severe in all places. The chapter gives a brief reflection on historical experience with epidemics in the Pacific Island region. The remainder of the chapter looks at the epidemiologyEpidemiology of the COVID-19Covid-19 pandemicsPandemic, the “who, when, and where” of COVID-19 in the Pacific Islands, its associated risk factors, and possible ways to controlControl the pandemicsPandemic. Medical preparednessPreparedness of PICT health systemsHealth systems in PICTs, and their material and organizational constitution are covered as well as the support PICT received from outside to deal with the situation. The chapter also provides an account of social and economic impactsEconomic impacts of COVID-19Covid-19, including challenges to care for Pacific Islanders away from home. SomeFiji PICs (Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu) Solomon Islands had to deal with severe tropical cyclones just at the time when governments tried to implement measures against COVID-19Covid-19. To conclude, the chapter provides recommendations of how to strengthen PICT capabilities and capacities to improve preparednessPreparedness against similar medical treats in the future. In the chapter, FijiFiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG) stand inPapua New Guinea (PNG) the center of analysis. Some other Pacific Islands and Territories were included, where reported cases emerged and/or where important situations arose. In a few instances, the chapter also looks at the situation Pacific Islanders faced outside their countries.