Three more COVID deaths, 120 new cases in Jamaica

Jamaica recorded three more COVID-19-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

At the same time, the country recorded 120 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, bringing the total cases on record for the island to 1,732. Recoveries increased by 21, total recoveries to 840 (45.5 per cent recovery rate).

Of the newly confirmed cases, 61 are males and 59 are females, with ages ranging from two to 91 years. The cases were recorded in St Catherine (72), Kingston & St Andrew (23), Portland (15), St Thomas (5), Clarendon (1), Trelawny (1), St Ann (2) and St Mary (1). Two cases are contacts of confirmed cases while 118 are currently under investigation.

Five moderately ill patients and three critically ill patients are among the 801 (46.2 per cent) active cases now under observation in Jamaica. Seventy-one of the cases recorded on the island have returned to their countries of origin.

Some 29,560 persons of interest are quarantined at home while 18 remain in quarantine at a government facility.

Jamaica now has 441 imported cases; 497 cases that are contacts of confirmed cases; 154 local transmission cases not epidemiologically linked; 236 related to the workplace cluster in St Catherine and 404 are under investigation.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness is again alerting members of the public to avoid gatherings, encompassing attending parties and special events, as it notes several of the recent cases are linked to public gatherings.

In a recent investigation, it was uncovered that from a single party held in Portland, 14 confirmed cases have occurred.

The ministry pleads everyone to continue to keenly observe the infection prevention and control measures to guard against the spread of COVID-19. These measures include maintaining a 6ft physical distance from others, frequently washing hands with soap and water, or your hand sanitizer and always wearing a mask in public.