For a country assisted by international aid, with millions of malnourished people and highly dependent on remittances from emigrants and cruise ship tourism, the coronavirus has been an economic blow. In contrast, the impact of covid on Haitians is minimal, at least officially: 12,352 cases and 247 deaths (compared to 237,629 and 3,075 in the neighboring Dominican Republic, with almost the same population, 10-11 million). It is not explained. Dr. William Pape, who heads the covid dossier, has alluded to herd immunity.
In reality, “not many PCRs have been done and we don’t really know how many cases and how many deaths there are,” says Doris Lapomeroy. Nor is there much talk, “and there is no great concern,” he adds. Few wear masks and, to the surprise of the entire Caribbean, carnivals have been celebrated, always of political utility. Moïse was in attendance, as did his godfather, former President Michel Martelly, known for Sweet Micky in music, who performed to crowds.
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