WILLEMSTAD - The Caribbean parts of the Kingdom are dealing with record numbers of new corona infections.

Aruba got hit the most with 1,028 new positive tests on Tuesday, bringing the number of active cases to more than 3,300. Curaçao reported 732 new infections yesterday. This brings the total number of patients to 4,757. One of these is Minister of Health Pietersz-Janga, who previously stated that drinking lemon juice protects better than vaccination. On Bonaire, the number of infected rose by 97 to 359 yesterday, a threefold increase in less than a week. Sint Maarten records 826 cases. It is remarkable that this time the new wave also affects Sint Eustatius (80) and Saba (55).

The number of hospital admissions is still considerably smaller than in previous outbreaks. Nevertheless, the hospitals in Aruba and Curaçao are on their borders, the first because of a renovation and the second because of a staff shortage. Prime Minister Pisas accuses the management of the Curaçao Medical Center of sounding the alarm too late, but he in turn states that the government has ignored all previous signals.

Although the numbers of infections on the ABC islands are proportionally many times higher than in the European Netherlands, local authorities are reluctant to take measures. Shops and restaurants are open. The governments of Aruba and Curaçao are hesitant to deter tourists. The Leeward Islands receive more visitors than before the pandemic.

The situation in Aruba has prompted the American health service Center for Disease Control and Prevention to advise tourists not to travel to the island. Last week, Air Canada already decided not to fly to Aruba for the time being.