COVID-19 cases up to 26 in Jamaica

A 70-year-old man from Clarendon is the new person to be diagnosed with the COVID-19, in Jamaica, pushing the number of confirmed cases to 26.

The patient hails from the Corn Piece settlement community in Clarendon, which is under quarantine. That's the same community where the country's first coronavirus victim come out.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, during a digital group discussion to update the state on the pandemic.

A total of 150 persons are tested for the fast-spreading virus Covid-19 in Jamaica. Eighteen results are pending. Seventeen of Jamaica’s positive cases are males, and nine are females.

Meanwhile, Tufton said the two-week quarantine that was assessed on the Seven and Eight Miles communities in evergreen magnolia is going to be lifted on Saturday, March 20. Chief medical man, Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie said that some persons within the communities, who were in reality with patient one, are going to be tested again and, if necessary, special arrangements are going to be made to house them.

Tufton said the govt. Continues to need 600 rooms to quarantine persons who are going to be recovering from COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting. He said these rooms are going to be required once the community spread of the virus begins in Jamaica.

“We’ve started that search, and we’ve had a variety of offers but the suitability, however, of these facilities during several cases, are a challenge. Either they’re too small or, in some instances, the prices are prohibitive or high, supported private providers’ requirement, so the search continues," he said.,

“This variety of accommodation is critical to the decision to cope with the community spread that's likely to come back within the not too distance future," the health minister explained.

He added that, within the public interest, the chance of using the Emergency Powers Law to force the owners of personal property to form them available for the specified purpose, would be considered.