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COVID-19 Update-Minister of Health & Wellness Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP

March 26, 2020

March 25, 2020: 

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, good afternoon. Thank you for joining us for this our latest update on Jamaica’s COVID-19 National Response Efforts.

 

SOME CONTEXT

 

  • Imported cases: Cases acquired outside the location of reporting.

 

  • Local transmission: Source of infection is within the reporting location.

 

  • Community transmission: Inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases (larger outbreaks of local transmission).

 

  • Sporadic cases: One or more cases, imported or locally acquired.

 

  • Cluster of cases: Most cases of local transmission linked to chains of transmission (group of related cases).

 

CURRENT NUMBERS

 

There is one (1) new confirmed case in the last 24 hours. Jamaica now has a total of 26 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

 

  •  18 are imported cases (1 death)
  •  7 are import-related
  • One (1) is still under investigation

 

The new case is a 70-year-old male from Clarendon (son in law of the deceased). He has no travel history.

 

TESTING

We have now tested 150 samples.

 

  • 26 would have tested positive;
  • 124 tested negative; and
  • 18 results are pending.

 

Meanwhile:

 

  • 17 are under quarantine in a Government facility.
  • 254 are under quarantine at home.
  • 51 Persons in Isolation

 

 

Home quarantine numbers do not include the residents of 7 & 8 Miles Bull Bay and Corn Piece Settlement in Clarendon.

 

HOSPITAL READINESS

 

  • Surge Plan is in place for all hospitals, with activation at some facilities, including KPH, Port Antonio, Mandeville, Cornwall Regional, St Ann’s Bay, UHWI, Bustamante, and National Chest.
  • We are now operating at an isolation capacity of 150 across the island but with the capability to accommodate up to 326 persons, should the need arise.

 

REMINDER RE HOME QUARANTINE

 

The Ministry is once again reminding travellers who, in the last week, have come into the island from countries where there is local transmission of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), that they are to self-quarantine for up to 14 days.

 

Countries with local transmission include the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, China, Iran, and France. A full listing of countries with cases is available at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports.

 

If you develop symptoms, call 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683). Please note persons can be charged for violating this order.

 

QUARANTINE PROTOCOL
 

  • Stay alone in a well-ventilated room.
  • Always cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw it away in a covered bin.
  • Wash hands using soap and water before and after using the bathroom, coughing and/or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching eyes and mouth, especially after sneezing or coughing.
  • Have little or no contact with other members of the household and restrict visits from friends and/or family.
  • Restrict members of the household from utilising the same bathroom.

 

Additional information and updates on COVID-19 can be found at the Ministry’s website at https://www.moh.gov.jm and social media platforms @themohwgovjm. Members of the public may also email covid19@moh.gov.jm or jacovid19facts@gmail.com.

 

 

CONTACT TRACING

 

The Ministry, through the Parish Health Departments, is actively investigating contacts of all confirmed cases across the island.

 

We want to remind all passengers on the JetBlue Flights, who have not yet made contact with the Ministry to do so urgently. The flights are as follows:

 

  • JetBlue Flight 659, which arrived on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 1:00 a.m. at the Norman Manley International Airport.

 

  • JetBlue Flight 2959 which arrived on Thursday, March 12 at midnight at the Norman Manley International Airport.

 

  • JetBlue Flight B2893 which arrived on March 14, 2020 at 2:14 p.m. at Donald Sangster International Airport.


Passengers are to call any of the following numbers: 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683) /888-754-7792/ 876-542-5998/ 876-542-6007 or 876-542- 6006. Persons may also send an email with their contact details to:  covid19@moh.gov.jm or jacovid19facts@gmail.com.

 

CONCLUSION

 

I want to commend the public health team, and in particular those at the parish health departments, who have been following up through contact tracing and who have been assessing persons on the ground, to prevent the further spread of the virus. 

 

I also wish to thank members of the public for their continued patience and cooperation.