Nicaragua's surprising response to COVID-19

Pearson, A.; Prado, Andrea; Colburn, Forrest D.

doi:10.7189/jogh.10.010371

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…For epidemiological reasons, it is critically important to look at how the different neighboring countries addressed the coronavirus pandemic, particularly their guidelines on PPE usage, and to explore the prevalence of COVID-19 cases. This is particularly useful considering that Nicaragua, in contrast to the rest of Central America, did not follow the Pan American Health Organization's recommendations [ 24 ], however we are not aware of any scientific studies on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among HCW in Central America. Regarding other Latin American countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, an international survey reports a lack of access to different PPE equipment and diagnostic methods for both professionals and patients, and that 70% of professionals stated not having the necessary resources to care for patients with COVID-19 [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First report on prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among health-care workers in Nicaragua

Huete-Pérez¹,

Cabezas-Robelo²,

Páiz-Medina³

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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The Nicaraguan COVID-19 situation is exceptional for Central America. The government restricts testing and testing supplies, and the true extent of the coronavirus crisis remains unknown. Dozens of deaths have been reported among health-care workers. However, statistics on the crisis’ effect on health-care workers and their risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 are lacking. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health-care workers and to examine correlations with risk factors such as age, sex and comorbidities. Study participants (N = 402, median age 38.48 years) included physicians, nurses and medical assistants, from public and private hospitals, independent of symptom presentation. SARS-CoV-2 was detected on saliva samples using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay. A questionnaire was employed to determine subjects’ COVID-19-associated symptoms and their vulnerability to complications from risk factors such as age, sex, professional role and comorbidities. The study was performed five weeks into the exponential growth period in Nicaragua. We discovered that 30.35% of health-care workers participating in our study had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. A large percentage (54.92%) of those who tested positive were asymptomatic and were still treating patients. Nearly 50% of health-care workers who tested positive were under 40, an astonishing 30.33% reported having at least one comorbidity. In our study, sex and age are important risk factors for the probability of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 with significance being greatest among those between 30 and 40 years of age. In general, being male resulted in higher risk. Our data are the first non-governmental data obtained in Nicaragua. They shed light on several important aspects of COVID-19 in an underdeveloped nation whose government has implemented a herd-immunity strategy, while lacking an adequate healthcare system and sufficient PPE for health-care workers. These data are important for creating policies for containing the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First report on prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among health-care workers in Nicaragua

Huete-Pérez¹,

Cabezas-Robelo²,

Páiz-Medina³

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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“…Of the countries involved in our survey, Nicaragua has seen the fewest restrictions throughout 2020 ( Figure 1 ) and low reported infection and death rates ( Table 1 ), it is the poorest country in Latin America [ 43 ], and the country’s response may reflect this, due to lack of resources and the vulnerability of citizens. However, this response has been scrutinised and differs from approaches taken elsewhere [ 44 , 45 ]. The testing capacity of Nicaragua was also reported to be low [ 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Working Equid Community: Responses from 1530 Individuals Accessing NGO Support in 14 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Wild

Gedge

Burridge

et al. 2021

Animals

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The COVID-19 pandemic was declared on 11 March 2020. The working equid community includes some of the world’s most marginalised people, who rely on animals for their daily lives and livelihoods. A cross-sectional study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on working equid communities, with the intention of developing methods for replication in future unprecedented events. A multi-language survey was developed, involving 38 predominantly closed questions, and carried out face-to-face, over telephone, or online. There were 1530 respondents from a population of individuals who received support from equid welfare projects across 14 low- or middle-income countries projects during November and December 2020. Overall, at the time of survey completion, 57% (875/1522) of respondents reported that their equids were working less, 76% (1130/1478) reported a decreased monthly income from equids, and 78% (1186/1519) reported a reduction in household income compared to pre-pandemic levels. Costs of equid upkeep remained the same for 58% (886/1519) of respondents and 68% (1034/1518) reported no change in the health of their equid. The potential long-term impacts on human and equid welfare due to reported financial insecurities necessitates monitoring. A One Welfare approach, involving collaboration with governments, humanitarian, and animal welfare non-governmental organisations is required to mitigate deep-rooted issues.

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“…Local journalists documented how officials minimized the effects of the virus by writing certificates saying that victims of Covid-19 had passed away due to pneumonia or other illnesses (Herrera 2020; Wilfredo & Salazar 2021). Medical professionals warned against the consequences of ignoring the virus as an acute health problem (Pearson et al 2020). More than 700 medical doctors criticized the government for not reacting, some were forced to quit or were fired due to their critique of the regime (Celedón Lacayo et al 2020).…”

Section: How Did the Initial Reactions To The Covid-19 Pandemic Play ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A conversation about the state in pandemic times

Berg

Alm

2022

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Established ideas about state responsibility and state violence are placed in a new light in times characterized as states of emergency. The following conversation addresses the role of the state in the safeguarding of public health, taking its departure in media debates and political debates about state responsibility in two countries that have been criticized for not taking strong enough measures to protect the very futuriority of the nation in times of a pandemic Sweden and Nicaragua. Both countries have been castigated for avoiding total lockdown and for having taken a passive approach to what Wendy Brown has called “the political management of the virus” (Brown 2020). At the same time, the rhetoric used to describe their respective strategies has differed vastly in dialogue we explore notions about governance, biopolitics and necropolitics as they are articulated and negotiated in national contexts that claim the label social democracies. One of the points of departure is that while the response to Covid-19 is often described in war metaphors, and hence as a state of emergency, the unjust and unequal distribution of life and death is by no means exceptional.

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Nicaragua's surprising response to COVID-19

Cited by 13 publications

References 3 publications

First report on prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among health-care workers in Nicaragua

First report on prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among health-care workers in Nicaragua

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Working Equid Community: Responses from 1530 Individuals Accessing NGO Support in 14 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

A conversation about the state in pandemic times

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