Puerto Rico coronavirus statistics for June 29

According to numbers provided by the Puerto Rico Health Department, 7,250 people are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, an increase of 686 since last week.  The death toll is currently 153, with four people having died during the past week.

Beginning on June 11, the Health Department changed the way it recorded cases, splitting them between confirmed cases (as determined by molecular diagnostic testing) and probable cases (as determined by serological, non-diagnostic testing). Viewed through that prism, Puerto Rico currently has 1,638 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (an increase of 98 over the past week) and 5,612 probable cases. The number of probable cases was boosted by the addition of 30 previously unreported cases. There are currently 104 people hospitalized due to COVID, making it the first time in weeks that that figure has passed 100.

This week, Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced extended the current curfew until July 22 but the resumption of normal business continues, with career public employees expected to begin reporting to their workplaces on July 1. Schools and universities will also be allowed to offer in-person education. Public transportation will resume. Casinos will be allowed to open and sporting events and concerts will also be allowed to take place in a restricted manner. In addition, a separate executive order loosened restrictions binding some incoming arrivals to Puerto Rico, allowing corporate employees or contractors to forgo 14-day quarantines upon arrival if they travel with previous notification and after testing negative for COVID within 24 hours of their trip. At least three recent outbreaks of COVID have been tied to people arriving to the Island by plane.  

Dust from the Sahara blankets Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico was already experiencing an atypical and unsustainable lack of rain when it was further battered by the elements this week, as dust from the Sahara spread across the Island in unprecedented levels. This degraded air quality; caused the Island to experience a heat index of up to 107 degrees; further compromised water levels and rain levels; and hindered the generation of solar power. The first and heaviest wave came early in the week, beginning on Monday before beginning to dissipate the following day. A second wave came during the weekend.

Governor declares Island-wide State of Emergency due to drought

On Monday, Governor Vázquez Garced issued an executive order declaring an Island-wide state of emergency due to drought. “During the past weeks, we have been facing a period of low precipitation, which, combined with the continued aftershocks that continue due to the January 7, 2020 earthquake and in along with the coronavirus pandemic, threatens the general welfare, including basic services and the health of our citizenry,” the governor declared. 

Additionally, the Governor announced the implementation of water control measures for the Carraízo reservoir, which provides water for the municipalities of Canóvanas, Carolina, Gurabo, San Juan, and Trujillo Alto. These new interruptions in service are in addition to those already in place for the municipalities of Canóvanas, Loíza, Río Grande and San Lorenzo. 

DOL: Puerto Rico has second-highest unemployment level in U.S.

According to statistics unveiled last week by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Puerto Rico is the state-level jurisdiction in the U.S. with the second-highest unemployment level, with 20.6%. It is surpassed only by Nevada, whose unemployment rate is currently 22.6%. This is up from a rate of 8.5% in February.

As in the rest of the United States, COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns have resulted in a sharp rise in both unemployment and unemployment insurance claims; until June 26, the DOL had received 496,186 unemployment insurance claims, either from regular insurance or via the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.