WILLEMSTAD - In the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, 474 positive test results were reported in November, a decrease compared to October when the counter reached 545.
COVID-19-related mortality was low on all islands in November: five in November compared to eleven in October. No new COVID-19-related deaths have been reported on the BES islands since August 22.
Curaçao reported 97 new positive test results last month, lower than the 121 in October. The number of COVID-19-related hospital admissions decreased slightly, from 15 in October to 11 in November.
In total, fewer than five deaths were reported in November; all patients were older than 65 years and died in a care setting.
In the first week of December, 27 people per 100,000 inhabitants received a positive test result and the test positivity was twenty percent.
Aruba
In November, Aruba had 266 positive test results, thirty COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and fewer than five deaths. This is an increase from the 187 reports in October.
The number of COVID-19-related hospital admissions increased from 18 in October to 30 in November, but not to the extent that hospitals were overloaded.
Five of the thirty admitted patients were minors. The COVID-19-related mortality has been corrected retrospectively and is, therefore, higher than in previous reports.
The number of reported deaths consists of both deaths due to and with COVID-19. In the first week of December, 42 people per 100,000 inhabitants received a positive test result and the test positivity was 21 percent.
Bonaire
On Bonaire, 82 COVID-19 infections were reported in November, down from 112 in October. Fewer than five COVID-19-related hospitalizations and no COVID-19-related deaths were reported in November.
In the first week of December, 160 people per 100,000 inhabitants received a positive test result and the test positivity in the Health Department test street was 68 percent.
Subvariants
In Aruba, subvariant 22E (Omicron) BQ.1 and derivatives (derived from BA.5) are most common (79% at week 46). In addition, the subvariant 22B (Omicron) BA.5 and derivatives (21% week 46) circulate on the island.
On Bonaire, subvariant 22B (Omicron) BA.5 and derivatives are most common (50% week 47). In addition, subvariants 22E (Omicron) BQ.1 and derivatives (25% week 47) and subvariant 22F (Omicron) XBB and derivatives (recombinant of BA.2.75 and BA.2.10 derivative) (25% week 47) circulate on the island. The proportion of subvariant 22F increased rapidly on the island between weeks 41 and 47.
In Curaçao, the subvariant 22B (Omicron) BA.5 and derivatives are dominant (50% week 46). In addition, subvariants 22E (Omicron) BQ.1 and derivatives (derived from BA.5) (40% week 46) and 22F(Omicron) XBB and derivatives (recombinant of BA.2.75 and BA.2.10 derivative) circulate on the island (10% week 46).