Thread by @christufton

COVID-19 CONVERSATION THREAD:

Communication changes:

The MOHW has indicated that we are now in the community transmission phase of COVID-19.

This is the time when, our resources will have to shift to:

1. Monitoring the spread and characteristics of the virus.

2. Identifying and managing severe cases.

3. Preventing onward transmission.

4. Alleviating strains on healthcare services.

5. Informing the public, and

6. Reducing overall social and economic impact.

It is a shift that necessitates a number of operational changes, including the effort to ensure our health facilities are sufficiently equipped for a surge in the cases while also increasing the complement of the health team.

The operational changes include the way in which at least some of our communications is handled, as we seek to ensure that members of the public are provided with timely information for sound decision making.

As such, beginning tomorrow (Friday, Sept 11)

- the update on the COVID-19 numbers will be provided by 10:00 am each day, reflecting the verified numbers of the last 24 hours. Access to these will be provided through the MOHW’s website moh.gov.jm and SM platforms.

- Our weekly press conference and COVID Conversations will continue, providing members of the media the chance to get behind the numbers while giving the public a better understanding of what they need to do to keep themselves safe while slowing transmission.

We will also take stock of changing measures put in place to enable COVID coping in the different settings - home, school and workplace. This is in addition to looking at new approaches to testing and the evolving COVID-19 research agenda of the MOHW.

While we will continue to share infection, prevention and control messages –from the need to wear masks to handwashing, sanitizing and adhering to quarantine – members of the public can also expect to hear more stories of persons who have been impacted by COVID-19.

This will include a look at
people living with or who have recovered; and the stories of persons who provide care to the most vulnerable.

You can also expect to see the enhanced focus on targeted community interventions. More than at any other time in our COVID-19 experience, it is now essential to deepen the effort to build community resilience to COVID19.

We want to ensure that community stakeholders understand what they are up against and that they are sufficiently empowered to respond, including through the training of community leaders and/or influencers.

In short, with the support of various partners, the MOHW has done significant communications work for the national audience.

We are now keen on ensuring that the information shared at the national level is appropriately received at the level of communities, whose members we need to act in their own public health interest on the basis of this information.

CURRENT NUMBERS:

Regrettably, the Ministry of Health and Wellness confirms two new COVID-19 related deaths.The deceased are a 90-year-old man of a Kingston & St. Andrew address
and a 34-year-old woman of a St.James address, who’s death previously reported as being investigated.

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 %).

Jamaica’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are now up to 3,511 with the addition
of 74 new positives in the last 24 hours.

Recoveries have also increased by 32 bring the total number of persons, who have recovered and have been released from care to 1,051(29.9%.)

Of the 74 newly confirmed cases, there were 40 females and 34 males. Their ages range from 4 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) and Trelawny (4) and St.Thomas.

All 74 cases are under investigation.

There are currently 2,342 (66.7%) actives cases being monitored across the island.

Some 71 (2%) of the cases on record have returned to their countries of origin, 26 patients are moderately ill and there are 8 critically ill patients.

There are:

- 459 imported cases

- 693 cases that are contacts of confirmed cases;

- 236 cases are related to the workplace cluster in St. Catherine,

251 are local transmissions (not epidemiologically linked), and
1,872 cases are under investigation.

Some 1,931 (55%), of the confirmed cases are females and there are 1,577
(45%) males. The sex classification of 3 cases are being investigated. The ages of all confirmed cases range from 13 days to 97 years.

There are now 3 persons in facility quarantine. There are 26,028 in home quarantine.

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.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS :

Jamaicans must consistently observe all the infection prevention and control measures to guard against the further spread of COVID-19, as the country is now in the community transmission phase of the pandemic.

These measures include the frequent washing of hands with soap and water; maintaining the prescribed six-feet physical distance from others; and wearing a mask when in public. Visitors and returning residents must also comply with the quarantine orders.