Puerto Rico coronavirus statistics for September 20

According to the Puerto Rico Health Department, 316,559 people are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, an increase of 2,209 since September 13. This points to a slight decrease in the rate of new cases, as the increase between September 6 and September 13 was of 2,698. The death toll is currently 3,076, with 73 of those registered since September 13. Comparatively, 80 people died from the virus between September 6, when the death toll was 2,923, and September 13, when it was 3,003.

On July 23, 2021, the Health Department once again changed the way it recorded cases. On its new COVID information dashboard, the Department no longer displays suspicious cases (as determined by serological, non-diagnostic testing) which at last count accounted for 137,262 of all recorded COVID cases in Puerto Rico. There are currently 257 people hospitalized due to COVID, a decrease of 97 since September 13.  

According to the Puerto Rico Health Department and its Puerto Rico Electric Immunization System (PREIS), a total of 2,164,290 people on the Island have been fully vaccinated, while 2,435,314 have received at least one dose. This week, Puerto Rico overtook Vermont to become the 2nd-most vaccinated U.S. jurisdiction, after the Republic of Palau.

In order to regain lost ground, the Puerto Rican government continues to enact measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including measures pertaining to mass gatherings. Currently, mass gatherings may only maintain a 100% occupancy rate if vaccination mandates are enforced for that event. Venues that do not wish to enforce a mandate may only maintain a 50% occupancy rate and are still mandated to require attendees show that they have tested negative for COVID after taking a test 72 hours prior to the event.

Puerto Rico feels the heat from climate change  

While Puerto Rico is no stranger to droughts, hurricanes, and other damaging weather and climate patterns, all of these are certain to increase in frequency and severity because of a warming planet, experts say. The Island is already experiencing significant effects from climate change, such as the destruction of Puerto Rico’s coral reefs, which are impacted by increasing acidity and erosion. 

“We need to stop talking about the polar bear,”said climatologist Rafael Méndez Tejeda, a member of Puerto Rico’s statutory Expert and Advisors Committee on Climate Change, citing erosion, droughts and heatwaves experienced on the Island. “These are all problems we already have—effects of climate change that are already here, and we need to deal with them.” The Committee, formed two years ago, has been tasked by Governor Pedro Pierluisi with providing recommendations by October to correct, mitigate, and prevent the effects of climate change on the coastal areas. 

A report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that the effects of climate change are “widespread, rapid, and intensifying.” Regarding the Caribbean, the IPCC concluded that the trend of decreased rain during the months of June, July and August will accelerate over the next decades, with heat expected to rise by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Puerto Rico at risk of losing millions in federal rent and utility aid funds

Despite significant need, the Puerto Rican government is at risk of losing more than 75% of the $325 million assigned as part of the federal government’s Rent Assistance Program, warns Alejandro Salgado, Puerto Rico’s Public Housing Administrator. If 65% of the assigned funds are not distributed by September, they may be redistributed elsewhere.

When the rent assistance program was announced last June, it was estimated that some 55,000 people would be eligible for rent assistance. So far, however, only 18,162 applications have been submitted, and only $5.7 million—1.8% of the assigned funds—has been distributed. Among those who can be helped by the program are the parties involved in 1,126 eviction cases, who are now being directed by the Court Administration Office (OAT, in Spanish) on how to apply for these funds. 

Puerto Rico researchers publish study on potential Alzheimer’s therapy

Researchers at the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao have developed a potential new tool to help mitigate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Although the group’s work is still in its first stage, the results so far “provide a great opportunity to redirect research on neurodegenerative diseases,” according to Kyabeth M. Torres Rodríguez, one of the research students. “Our study opens many doors for our lab and for other researchers to be able to continue and expand what we know and understand about the benefits of nanoparticles.” According to the Puerto Rico Department of Health, Alzheimer’s is the fourth greatest cause of death on the Island.