Jamaica remains under the thrashing of the third coronavirus (COVID-19) wave, as the island confirmed 513 new infections over the last 24 hours.

The pandemic has taken on a new dimension, however, with the nation’s positivity rate hitting 46.1 per cent on Sunday (August 15), according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

It is the highest rate ever recorded in Jamaica since the first case was confirmed on March 10, 2020. A positivity rate of 42.5 per cent was confirmed by the health ministry on March 22, when the island had yet to reach the peak of its previous infection curve.

The ministry, in its clinical management summary, noted that Jamaica is managing 9,297 active cases—a 253.7 per cent spike in current infections since July 18, when the active caseload was at 3,664.

The country continues to be hit with triple-digit cases, confirming 5,221 new cases in the first 15 days of August. The highest number of cases, 656, since March 21 were recorded by health officials last Friday.

Cumulatively, the island has confirmed 58,458 cases, ranking as the fourth-worst hit country/territory in the Caribbean behind Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Amid the exponential rate of spread being experienced islandwide, all 14 parishes recorded new cases, with St Catherine (134), Kingston and St Andrew (94), Westmoreland (93), St James (54) and St Ann (47) among the worst-affected areas.

With 11 new fatalities, coronavirus-related deaths stand at 1,311, while 47,480 Jamaicans have fully recovered from the infectious disease.

Additionally, 443 patients are undergoing treatment at hospital due to COVID-19; 107 persons are classified as ‘moderately ill’ and 46 more labelled as ‘critically ill’.