Puerto Rico coronavirus statistics for March 8

According to the Puerto Rico Health Department, 187,872 people are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, an increase of 5,198 since March 1. This points to a slight decrease in the rate of new cases, as the increase between February 22 (when the total was 177,430) and March 1 was 5,244. The rate of deaths, on the other hand, dropped sharply this week: the death toll is currently 2,065, with 28 of those registered in the last week. Comparatively, 54 people died from the virus between February 22 and March 1.

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 93,783 confirmed cases, 8,034 probable cases, and 86,055 suspicious cases since the virus arrived on the Island.

There are currently 137 people hospitalized due to COVID, a decrease of 18 since last week. Vaccines will be available for people older than 60 with certain chronic health conditions this week.

Only 44 Puerto Rican schools certified to begin in-person classes

Like many state governments, the Puerto Rican government is determined to reopen schools for in-person classes. However, on Saturday, the Puerto Rico Department of Education announced that only 44 schools were certified to actually begin in-person classes this week, and of those, 42 have only obtained a preliminary certification. Only two schools have received a final certification.

The list of which schools can admit students and which ones cannot is fluid, as circumstances in each municipality shift week-to-week. As it stands, school administrators are charged with determining whether their school is in a high-risk municipality.

U.S. lawmakers introduce Puerto Rico statehood bill

On Tuesday of last week, Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González (R-PR) introduced the Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act. The bipartisan bill, which has 49 co-sponsors, would bring about a binding vote for statehood; if a majority of Puerto Ricans vote for statehood, the Federal government would be bound to bring it about. 

The Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act comes less than a year after the latest non-binding Puerto Rico status referendum, in which 52.52% of voters (in an election with a 55% turnout) answered “yes” to a “statehood: yes or no” question. Puerto Rican statehood remains a fraught subject, however, both in Puerto Rico itself and in the United States. While a majority of voters appear to favor statehood, a large number of Puerto Ricans support alternative status options, and the Democratic majority in Congress is by no means united behind statehood. 

The Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act is not the only status bill currently under discussion. Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are expected to re-introduce the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act, which would result in the creation of a status convention where delegates would craft a long-term status solution for Puerto Rico. 

A Senate version of the Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act is expected to be introduced by Senator Martin Heimrich (D-NM).

New COVID-19 aid bill expected to bring additional economic assistance to Puerto Rico

The American Rescue Plan of 2021, the COVID-19 relief bill passed by the Senate last weekend, is of particular importance to residents of Puerto Rico, who will obtain access to programs that had previously been unavailable to them.

As we previously reported, specific provisions of the relief bill allow Puerto Rico to receive nearly $900 million in nutritional assistance and to obtain full access to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which previously only applied to families with three or more children. Additionally, once the bill is passed, the federal government will foot the bill for three-fourths of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Altogether, the changes to CTC and EITC are expected to add $1.4 billion to Puerto Rico’s coffers.