In anticipation of the fourth COVID-19 wave, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has once again reiterated that the COVID-19 virus is here to stay.

Speaking at yesterday’s (December 22) COVID Conversations press briefing, Tufton, who described the virus’ permanency as an “undisputed reality”, explained that the Jamaican public needs to readjust its treatment toward the COVID-19 virus.

“COVID is here and it is here to stay. It is not going anywhere. As a result, we have to learn to live with COVID, but not necessarily as we have been living over the past two years.”

The health minister stated that the country needs to pivot and individuals need to perform the necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves and those around them, impressing upon each citizen that they have a significant role to play in combating the spread of the virus.

Speaking on the reality of the Omicron variant, the health minister stressed its highly transmissible nature and its rise to dominancy in a number of other countries.

“It is highly transmissible, and therefore can move from one person to the next very very quickly and a lot easier than previous strains. It is becoming the most dominant strain in a number of countries.”

Adding to this, Tufton warned that the public should expect that, in the case of Jamaica, the Omicron variant will also most likely become the most dominant strain in the country.

Despite the perceived mildness of the strain, as reported by experts, the health minister warned that Jamaicans should not be complacent, especially owing to the fact that the country has not yet achieved the desired rate of vaccine take-up and a likelihood of increased hospitalisations especially among the vulnerable.

“We have low vaccination rates and the more persons who get the virus, the greater the likelihood of hospitalisations going up, particularly among the vulnerable, the over 60s or the immuno-compromised individuals. We are now just… about 50 per cent or so, of the 60s to 80 years in terms of vaccination… . There is a full 50 per cent or there about of that age cohort those who are not vaccinated.”

Therefore, if the virus spreads among that cohort, as the health ministry expects it to, even in mild cases, some will become too ill to visit the hospital.

Tufton stated that hospitalisation projection sees up to 2,000 individuals being hospitalised.

In an effort to mitigate the exponential spread of the new strain, the health ministry, as if often does, is encouraging infection prevention and control practices in the form of mask wearing, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and hand hygiene.

The ministry also continues to encourage the public, especially the elderly, and those with comorbidities, to get vaccinated.