Thread by @christufton

#JaCovid19 Update

Covid Conversations

THREAD

RECOVERIES

I am happy to report that over the last 48 hours, EIGHT (8) more persons have recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 57.

CURRENT CASE NUMBERS

In the last 24 hours, five additional persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Jamaica.

There are now 478 confirmed cases on the island.

One of the new cases is an 18-year-old male from St Mary. He is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

The others are three men who range in age from 18 to 69 years and one woman, who is 17 years old.

Additional cases will be provided later.

There are:
o 35 imported cases
o 171 cases that are contacts of a confirmed case
o 11 are local transmission cases not epidemiologically linked
o 257 are under investigation (221 of those linked to the workplace cluster
and 36 others).
o Four are to be classified.

The age range for the confirmed cases continues to be 2 months to 87 years.

There remains 221 confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the workplace cluster. They are primarily from St. Catherine and Kingston and St. Andrew. Their ages range from 18 to 53 years. They include 166 females and 55 males.

Twenty (20) or 62.5 per cent of the 32 BPOs now in operation have passed inspection.

The remaining institutions have been provided with work plans to improve their infection prevention and control measures.

So far a total of 6,095 samples have been tested.

5 new positives for today.

Of the 6,095, in addition to the 478 that have returned positive results:

o 5,576 are negative
o 41 are pending

In the last 24 hours, 102 new samples were tested.

Now that we have got rid of the backlog, the Ministry and Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Regional Heath Authorities, will explore expanded testing options for COVID-19 to include the testing of all admissions to hospitals and the creation ..

... of an appointment system for persons who wish to be tested for the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Auditor General will next week begin an audit of the Ministry’s COVID-19 expenditure. The Executive Management of the Ministry welcomes this audit as a tool for effective and efficient implementation of activities and for transparency and accountability.

The public will, of course, be provided with the details of the outcome.

Updated BPO Numbers:

Number of BPOs - 96
Number Exempt - 59
Number Inspected - 95
Number Satisfactory - 28

CMO, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie commented on expanded testing options to include all persons admitted to hospitals. Dr. Mckenzie also mentioned an increase in routine testing of target groups; Transportation, Security personnel etc - who would be more at risk to exposure.

“ I would like you to raise an awareness for the stigma...So that people can be aware that it is not a death threat.”

- Patient M

Patient M when asked about the stigma “Well the stigma is that I still have Covid. They don’t want me near them or near their children. That is the stigma even though you have come out the hospital”

Thank you for tuning in to Covid Conversations Press Briefing.

Please remember to #TanAYuhYard!

Thanks to @IAmSteveHarvey for the message 🙏🏽

@themohwgovjm