Introduction: Several emerging and re-emerging diseases in the last decade have shown the global weakness to detect and act in a timely manner in situations that threaten the health of the planet Latin America has been vulnerable to outbreaks as a result of increased poverty, social inequity and the poor response capacity of the public health system O bjective: Describe the situation of COVID-19 in Honduras and the challenges it presents Methodology: Analysis of the epidemiology and control strategies applied in the country to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, in the context of the social and economic reality until September 18, 2020 Results: Honduras ranks fifth in Central America in the number of tests performed;the cumulative incidence rate of cases is 7 105 per million inhabitants The country has an accelerated growth in the percentage of positivity with intense community transmission Some 63 4 % of cases are concentrated in the group 20-49 years old (43 624 cases);15 2 % in adults 60+ (10 440 cases) and 7 5 % in children under 20 (5 133 cases) With a disjointed health system and a chronic and recurrent shortage of physical and human resources, the National Risk Management System (SINAGER), which includes the Ministry of Health (SESAL), implemented various strategies to reduce the spread of the virus Some control measures were border closures, physical distancing and the use of masks were made mandatory by legislative decree The serious impact on the weak national economy forced an intelligent opening coinciding with the rise of cases Conclusions: Current data show that the age group most affected is adults between 20 and 49 years old The country’s socioeconomic situation has been aggravated by the pandemic;the continuous rise in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths has collapsed the public health system leaving the majority of Hondurans in continuous vulnerability Primary care clinics and mobile medical brigades have been implemented as a new way to contain the spread and impact of transmission Several European countries and cities in the Americas have had to reverse the process of economic reopening when faced with successive waves of outbreaks Honduras has demonstrated limited capacity to dealwith catastrophic situations The national epidemiological surveillance system and access to timely and quality diagnostic tests remain weak and fragmented There is an urgent need to improve the health and surveillance system to guide strategic evidence-based decision making and to prevent future pandemics © 2020 Academia Nacional de Medicina All rights reserved
COVID-19 situation in Honduras: lessons learned