263 in a day: Tufton concerned as Jamaica’s daily COVID-19 caseload skyrockets
Gavin Riley / Our Today
administrator
Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton is foreshadowing another major outbreak and has expressed his concern for Jamaica, as the island confirmed 263 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last 24 hours.
Tufton, in a statement on Friday (February 5), again urged Jamaicans to take the pandemic seriously as the national caseload skyrockets to 16,513.
“I implore Jamaicans to continue to take the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves from catching and spreading COVID-19. We cannot be complacent at this time, as we still have to protect ourselves and others, especially members of the population that are considered vulnerable to severe outcomes of the disease,” Tufton said.
“COVID-19 is not over; it is still a clear and present danger, as we investigate these cases, we expect that our numbers may increase even further. [T]herefore, we need to keep washing our hands frequently or use hand sanitiser, keeping a physical distance of six feet away from others; wearing our masks; avoiding crowded situations, and adhering to all the measures outlined in the Disaster Risk Management Act,” the minister added.
According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, a total of 1,785 samples were tested on Thursday, 263 of which (or 14.73 per cent) returned positive for the coronavirus. It the highest-ever daily confirmation rate in Jamaica since the island first confirmed a case of the infectious disease in March 2020.
The Ministry of Health is managing 3,797 active cases.
St Mary stands as the only parish to record zero new cases yesterday, while Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Manchester, Clarendon and St Ann remain on the health officials’ radar with double-figure jumps on Thursday.
“At this time, Health & Wellness Ministry is monitoring some 3,797 active cases across the island, even as it keeps a close watch on Kingston & St Andrew, St Catherine, Manchester and St James — the parishes with the highest number of active cases in the last two weeks,” the ministry indicated.
Two patients died due to coronavirus-related complications, bringing the Jamaican death toll to 357; the island recorded no recoveries during the 24-hour period, which remains at 12,174.
A total of 119 patients are currently hospitalised, 21 of which have been categorised as ‘moderately ill’. Another 11 persons have been designated critically ill.
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