UN News – There is likely only a slim possibility of people being reinfected with COVID-19, said WHO, following reports in Hong Kong that a man had contracted new coronavirus for a second time after an interval of more than four months.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris addressed concerns that the development could herald a new alert.

“The important – other important – thing to note is the numbers are very, very small,” she said. “So this is one documented case in over 23 million and we will probably see other documented cases. But it seems to be not a regular event we would have seen many more cases.”

Nonetheless, Dr. Harris& noted that the reinfection signalled on Monday was significant.

Virus mutations

According to the University of Hong Kong scientists who announced the development, the virus strains that infected the man more than four months apart were different.

“The important thing here is that this is clear documentation,” the WHO spokesperson said. “So, we’ve had anecdotal reports every now and then from people who’ve tested negative, then tested positive. And it hasn’t been clear up until this case whether that was simply a problem of testing or whether people were getting infected a second time.”

Priorities for the UN health agency include understanding “what this means in terms of (people’s) immunity”, Dr. Harris continued.

Tracking process ongoing

“This is why we have got a lot of research groups actually tracking people, measuring antibodies, trying to understand how long the immune protection lasts – the natural immune protection – and that should be understood as it is not the same as the immune protection that a vaccine provides.”

To date, the WHO has recorded nearly 23.5 million cases of COVID-19 infection globally, with more than 809,000 deaths. The Americas have been worst-hit by region, with more than 12.5 million people infected, followed by Europe (3.995 million), South-East Asia (3.666 million), Eastern Mediterranean (1.840 million), Africa (1.007 million) and Western Pacific (460,991).

Vaccine initiative gathers pace

In a related development, WHO said that more than 170 countries are cooperating on a global initiative to produce fairly priced COVID-19 vaccines once they are licensed and approved.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) initiative involves countries and vaccine manufacturers; it is led by WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

In a statement, WHO said that COVAX has the world’s “largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio” with nine candidate vaccines, nine more “under evaluation and conversations underway with other major producers”.

WHO described the project as only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.

But it insisted that in order to secure enough doses of vaccines to protect the most vulnerable populations – such as health workers and the elderly – funding was needed by 31 August deadline.

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On September 3, Jamaica, an island of about three million people, will decide to replace the locks or give back the keys and what party colour will be draped for at least four more years as voters contemplate countless economic issues.

The election bag

Because of concern amid COVID-19, voters, and party officials questioned the timing of the election, but prime minister Andrew Holness of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) seized the moment observing favourable numbers and hoping for another 4 years in office.

After the election whistle blew, both leaders, immediately activated a non-stop colour media bliss taunting progress or lack thereof.  

Whether Dr Peter Phillips, opposition leader of the People National Party (PNP) agrees with the election call, it is a delicate balance asking locals who have been neglected to purchase another ticket.  The reality is that both vessels with an upgraded soundtrack arguing better days are ahead while blaming the other are in the same murky water.

Is there a perfect colour for Jamaica’s governance?

This election simply may come down to not the ever changing manifestos to outdo the other side, but what side telling the truth or to a greater degree better at covering up the truth as the island battle for its soul, and good governance, or one single issue; “safety,” which is a public health problem.

Jamaica local politics typically operates like a contact sport where only the fittest survive. When this political colorful game is over, the economic strain will continue. COVID-19 blame game is going to get uglier at the cost of people’s lives.

Voters are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Many voters who lost hope and trust are more likely to stay home.  It is not because Jamaica can’t do better, but whose less tainted, or carries a permanent stain to continue navigating these ostentatious waters, roads and hills.

Hoping for a new blend of colour

After the election, one hopes that these political parties operate like primary colours where leaders can combine to produce a good portrait; consequently, political fighting makes it difficult to govern and paint a picture for a more promising future.

This political election will not severely reduce COVID-19 the next day, reduce crime; create affordable education, better medical care, or new necessary equipment to save lives.

Hopefully, after these colorful events, all people can find a combination of colors to positively renovate the nation as the region continues to navigate these rough tides. It will take more than party devotion because this beautiful island to begin to see hope over fear, fact over fiction.

The rhythms being played every election cycle may change, but same vinyl until the next side gets to select hoping to implement what they are now painting. However, but not every dancer will have a new and better canvas for all to dance.

An election is like art, it should create good memories. As this shore tries to pick an image for brighter days between this rock and hard place regardless of who have the next paint brush, they must remain hopeful until everyone can genuinely enjoy these recycled portraits, add their own color for both the country and personal prosperity.

Jamaicans must seek change from the bottom up, and not the other way around.  

About The Author

R.D. Miller has been a member of the criminal justice field for over 15 years. He holds an MBA and a M.S. in criminal justice and leadership. More of his works here.

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