Puerto Rico coronavirus statistics for May 17

According to the Puerto Rico Health Department, 260,566 people are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, an increase of 4,100 since May 10. This points to a continuing decrease in the rate of new cases, as the increase between May 3 and May 10 was 6,036. The death toll is currently 2,438, with 64 of those registered in the last week. Comparatively, 59 people died from the virus between May 3 and May 10.

Beginning on November 7, the Health Department changed the way it recorded cases, splitting them between confirmed cases (as determined by molecular diagnostic testing), probable cases (as determined by antigen testing) and suspicious cases (as determined by serological, non-diagnostic testing). Viewed through that prism, Puerto Rico has had 120,725 confirmed cases, 16,238 probable cases, and 123,603 suspicious cases since the virus arrived on the Island.

There are currently 205 people hospitalized due to COVID, a decrease of 100 since last week. 

As vaccinations continue, attempts to inoculate younger populations have begun. Since the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for people as young as 12, at least 4,290 people 12 to 15 years of age have received one dose of the vaccine — a population representing 2.8% of the 152,410 people of that age estimated to live in Puerto Rico.

According to the Puerto Rico Health Department and its Puerto Rico Electric Immunization System (PREIS) a total of 1,024,298 people on the Island have been fully vaccinated, while another 1,292,223 have received at least one dose. According to the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, this represents 47% of the population 16 or older.

FOMB moves forward with LUMA contract

Earlier in May, the Puerto Rico Legislature, in its attempts to delay the implementation of the contract with LUMA Energy to hand over management of the Puerto Rico power grid, declared that that the House of Representatives would not approve any joint resolution allowing LUMA Energy to begin operations unless elements of the contract were amended.

Proposed amendments included, among other things, the elimination of language allowing LUMA to abandon Puerto Rico in case of a force majeure event and a cap of 20 cents per kilowatt/hour on the amount that can be charged for energy. If the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) did not agree to these changes to the contract, House leadership pledged that the legislature would block the assignment of $750 million needed to fund the execution of the existing contract. 

On Wednesday, May 12, with no agreements reached on amendments to the contract, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives voted against the $750 million. The Board subsequently exercised its power to move forward and amended Puerto Rico’s budget to assign the funds. Natalie Jaresko, the Board’s executive director, argued that doing so was necessary to guarantee that problems like those faced after Hurricane Maria would not occur again.

Hemp farming expands rapidly in Puerto Rico

Less than a year since its authorization, hemp farming and its associated industries have quickly grown in Puerto Rico, with roughly a hundred acres of land now dedicated to growing the crop. Additionally, according to Irving Rodríguez Torres, director of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Hemp Licensing and Inspection Office, 98 farming licenses have been awarded to date, along with 21 manufacturing licenses, two seed distribution licenses, two lab licenses, 54 import licenses and 10 investigation licenses. Experts predict that the industry, if fully developed, could bring in up to $200 million per year in gross agricultural income. 

“It’s a great business opportunity, because the Island has unique local incentives for registered farmers; land and manufacturing in government property; installations available for rent, and highly qualified farm workers. Besides, Puerto Rico’s location is unique,”Rodríguez Torres told El Nuevo Día. Puerto Rico’s weather allows hemp to be grown year-round and harvested three times per year, instead of one time on the mainland United States.

Caribbean Hemp Farms is currently Puerto Rico’s largest grower of hemp. It was funded by Puerto Rican farmer Raúl Mari Fernández and incorporated in the Island in 2019.