The latest weekly report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness on COVID-19 indicates that there were 276 new cases recorded within the space of one week, 100 of which were in Kingston and St Andrew.

The number of COVID-19 cases recorded each week on the island have drastically increased since the beginning of the new year, with hundreds of cases being recorded each week.

Kingston and St Andrew are two parishes that form the metropolitan area in Jamaica and have been know to lead the tally when it comes to the number of cases recorded. But this is the first time since 2023 that the parishes have recorded 100 cases.

Second to the twin parishes is St Catherine with 51 new cases for the week of January 31- February 6, 2023, while Westmoreland took third with 28 cases. The other reported cases are as follows:

• Clarendon – 10 new cases

• Hanover – 3 new cases

• Manchester and Portland – 4 new cases each

• St Ann – 22 new cases

• St Elizabeth – 9 new cases

• St James – 24 new cases

• St Mary – 8 new cases

• St Thomas – 13 new cases

• Trelawny – 0 new cases

The report also indicates that there was the confirmation of four deaths that took place between April 2021 and January 2023. One coincidental death was reported and two new deaths are being investigated.

There are now 407 active cases of the virus with 76 people who contracted COVID-19 recovering last week. The seven-day average positivity rate also stands at 23.5 per cent and increase from the 18.1 recorded in the week of January 24-30.

The health ministry continues to encourage vaccination against the virus with vaccines being offered at health centres islandwide. To find your nearest health centre visit the ministry’s website at moh.gov.jm.