| Just like any other nation, Jamaica has not been spared from the onslaught of the deadly coronavirus(COVID-19). The first reported and recorded case came on Tuesday, March 10, and was said to be imported by a female who traveled from London. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, provided details at a press conference at the Ministry of Health and Wellness in New Kingston, on Tuesday (March 10). Dr. Tufton pointed out that the patient is in isolation at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston. “The patient is a Jamaican female who had travelled from the United Kingdom, which has cases of COVID-19. She arrived in the island on March 4, presented to the public health system on March 9 and has been in isolation since then,” the Minister noted. “Based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms, health professionals suspected COVID-19. A clinical sample was collected and sent to the National Influenza Centre, where laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis today at approximately 11:00 a.m. The patient and family members have been informed,” he added. Dr. Tufton said the patient’s infection was travel-related, and steps are being taken to prevent the risk of community spread, which includes the dispatch of a health team to the home of the patient for assessment and initiation of public health measures; the identification and contact tracing for all possibly exposed persons, and a meeting of Ministry officials with members of staff at the hospital and the necessary interventions put in place. extracted from https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-records-first-case-of-covid-19/ Jamaica’s COVID-19 Cases Move To 44CORONAVIRUS APRIL 1, 2020 WRITTEN BY: AINSWORTH MORRISMinister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has reported an additional six cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Jamaica. He made the disclosure during a digital press conference from the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Wednesday (April 1). Minister Tufton said that all six new cases are linked to the index case from the community of Corn Piece in Clarendon, which is still under quarantine. This has pushed the total number of confirmed cases to 44.Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has reported an additional six cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Jamaica. He made the disclosure during a digital press conference from the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Wednesday (April 1). Minister Tufton said that all six new cases are linked to the index case from the community of Corn Piece in Clarendon, which is still under quarantine. This has pushed the total number of confirmed cases to 44. Jamaica’s first recorded death from COVID-19 was that of a 79-year-old man from the community with a travel history to New York. He was known to have had diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Tufton emphasised that with this increase, Jamaicans need to continue to limit people-to-people contact. “The reality is, the most effective way to control the virus’ spread or to flatten the curve is for people-to-people contact to be kept at a minimum, and I think the Corn Piece experience is an indication, again, of why it is that we have to insist on compliance,” he noted. He lamented that a number of Jamaicans are not complying with the social distancing measures to contain the spread of the virus. The Government has stipulated that persons stay at least one metre (three feet) away from each other, especially when out in public, and has imposed an all-island curfew for seven days, from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., beginning Wednesday (April 1). Of the 44 confirmed cases, 24 are imported, 17 are import-related cases and three cases are now under investigation. There have been two recoveries and three deaths to date. The third death, reported at the press conference, is a 41-year-old man with United Kingdom (UK) travel history. He suffered from some underlying conditions and developed renal failure and passed away. from https://jis.gov.jm/jamaicas-covid-19-cases-move-to-44/ |
69 confirmed COVID-19 cases in JamaicaLOOP NEWS CREATED : 11 APRIL 2020Jamaica now has sixty-nine (69) confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The four (4) new COVID-19 cases are: A 52-year-old male from Manchester who is a contact of a confirmed case A 73-year-old male, also from Manchester, who is also a contact of a confirmed case A 46-year-old female from Manchester, who is a contact of a confirmed case and a 19-year-old male from Clarendon, who is under investigation. They bring to thirty-one (31) the number of imported cases, twenty-five (25) the number of import-related cases and thirteen (13) the number of cases under investigation. The thirteen (13) cases under investigation have been traced to six (6) individuals who have given no history of travel or contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 prior to testing positive: All of these individuals are in isolation while the Ministry continues its active investigation of all the contacts of these cases. So far, 37 (or 54 per cent) of the confirmed cases are males and 32 (or 46 per cent) are females. The cases range in age from twelve (12) to eighty-seven (87) years. Thirteen (13) patients have fully recovered while four have died. There are currently twenty-two (22) persons in quarantine in a Government facility. A common feature among the persons in Jamaica who have had severe illness has been the presence of comorbid illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension. Jamaicans with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, are advised to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19 by staying at home if they are sick with fever and/or respiratory symptoms such as cough or cold symptoms. Frequently washing and sanitising hands, and covering their mouths and noses if sick or in crowded situations. The elderly are among the group of persons at highest risk of contracting COVID-19, in addition to persons with chronic illnesses that include sickle cell disease, cardiovascular and kidney. extracted from https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/69-confirmed-covid-19-cases-jamaica |
For the most part a lot of people were not observing and practicing the safety protocols and even when the government made it mandatory for masks to be worn in public, there were people that could be seen doing otherwise. Jamaica's case count went up steadily and by August we had a record of nearly 900 cases.Jamaica records 5 new cases of COVID-19Saturday, August 01, 2020KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica recorded five new cases of COVID-19 and 17 more recoveries in the last 24 hours, says the Ministry of Health and Wellness. This brings the number of confirmed cases in the island to 883, of which 743 have recovered. Of the number, the health ministry said 95 are active. The newly confirmed cases include two females and three males with ages ranging from 33 to 60 years old. Three of the new cases were imported, with the patients having arrived in the island on flights from the United States. The other two are under investigation. The ministry said of the 883 confirmed cases, 48 have been repatriated and 10 have died. There are no critically ill patients at this time. copied from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/_COVID-19_update_Aug_1_2020?profile=1228 |
| At about the third week in August, and for the reason, whatever it was, Jamaica's numbers started going up at an alarming rate of daily over 50, and at September 11 (would close September 10), six months after, the figures were: Jamaica’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are now up to 3,511, with the addition of 74 new positives in the last 24 hours (as at September 10). Of the 74 newly confirmed cases, there were 40 females and 34 males. Their ages range from four years to 80 years. The cases were recorded in Kingston and St. Andrew (29), St. Catherine (12), Portland (11), Clarendon (8), Manchester (5), St. Ann (4), Trelawny (4) and St. Thomas (1). All 74 cases are under investigation. Recoveries have also increased by 32, bringing the total number of persons who have recovered and have been released from care to 1,051 (29.9 per cent). Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, gave this update during the weekly COVID Conversations Digital Press Conference, held at the Ministry in New Kingston on Thursday (September 10). Regrettably, the Ministry of Health and Wellness confirmed two new COVID-19 related deaths. They are a 90-year-old man of a Kingston and St. Andrew address, and a 34-year-old woman of a St. James address, whose death was previously reported as being under investigation. There is one death that was previously under investigation that has been determined to be a coincidental finding of COVID-19 in a terminally ill 90-year-old female of a St. Catherine address. The total number of deaths from COVID-19 is now 40 (1.1 per cent). The island’s testing numbers are now up to 66,072, with 449 new samples tested in the last 24 hours. There are 62,497 negatives and 64 samples pending. copied from https://jis.gov.jm/confirmed-covid-19-cases-now-at-3511/ |
And by another month ....doubled!!!Six more COVID-19 deaths, 196 new casesLOOP NEWS CREATED : 10 OCTOBER 2020 JAMAICA NEWSAn additional six COVID-19 related deaths and 196 new cases were recorded across Jamaica on Friday, according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.The six newly classified coronavirus-related deaths are of a 46-year-old female from St James, a 66-year-old male from Kingston, a 73-year-old female from St Catherine, a 54-year-old female from Clarendon, a 68-year-old male from Manchester, and a 75-year-old female from St Catherine. Three of the deaths were previously under investigation. Jamaica also recorded 196 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases on record for the island to 7,559. Recoveries increased by 40, bringing total recoveries to 3,142. Of the newly confirmed cases, 105 are females and 87 are males, with ages ranging from one-month to 96 years. The cases were recorded in St Catherine (55), St James (36), Kingston and St Andrew (33), St Elizabeth (22), Clarendon (10), Hanover (10), St Ann (eight), Westmoreland (6), four each for St Thomas, St Mary and Trelawny, Manchester (three), and Portland (one). There are 27 moderately ill patients and 17 critically ill patients among the 4,179 active cases now under observation in Jamaica. extracted from https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/six-more-covid-19-deaths-196-new-cases |
And while we are being advised not to get complacent in observing the safety protocols, it is observed that the numbers seems to be trending down ↓
COVID-19 Update for Tuesday, November 10, 2020CORONAVIRUS NOVEMBER 11, 2020 WRITTEN BY: MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS
information as given at https://jis.gov.jm/covid-19-update-for-tuesday-november-10-2020/ |
| But did not stay that way for long, as the numbers started increasing, though not rapidly - and , we ended the year with a total recorded count of 12,915. Before the end of January, we were into triple figures, and by the 10th of February, sky-rocketed to 18,237, using an uphill climb up to 403 for one 24-hour period, so that the Island-wide curfew hours were adjusted. Jamaica reports new record high 468 COVID cases in 24 hoursLOOP NEWS CREATED : 16 FEBRUARY 2021New COVID-19 daily cases in Jamaica hit another record high Monday, with 468 reported across the island. There were 1,503 samples tested during the day. The 468 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases bring the total number of cases on record for the island to 19,773. There were also 49 recoveries, meaning 12,684 persons have now recovered from the virus in Jamaica. There were no deaths attributed to the respiratory illness on Monday, meaning that the overall coronavirus death toll in Jamaica remains at 378. However, two deaths of COVID-19 patients during the day are under investigation. Of the newly confirmed cases, 293 are females and 170 are males, with ages ranging from three months to 89 years. The gender involved in five of the cases are awaiting confirmation. The cases were recorded in Kingston and St Andrew (172), St Catherine (75), Manchester (59), St James (29), Trelawny (25), St Mary (22), St Elizabeth (20), Clarendon (19), Westmoreland (12), St Ann (11), Hanover (10), Portland (eight) and St Thomas (six). There are 49 moderately ill patients and 19 critically ill patients among the 6,513 active cases now under observation in Jamaica. from https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/jamaica-reports-new-record-high-468-covid-cases-24-hours At the end of February, the new cases were still not showing any signs of decreasing, so much so that Schools that had resumed face-to-face classes were ordered to move back teaching online.The number of active cases were over nine thousands. |
| At March 10, exactly one year since the first case was found, the stats now stood at, Total recorded cases = 28,273 .Total Deaths = 463, Active cases = 12,934.This period had seen records of 723 and 878 cases respectively for one-24 hours period. On this same day was the start of the vaccine process which had arrived two days prior. |