According to the latest information available from the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), Jamaica’s positivity rate has climbed to 37.8 per cent.

The spike in the positivity rate correlates with the recent surge in new infections and people hospitalized for the virus.

The MOHW in a release on Sunday (August 8) reported that the island had recorded 378 new infections, all 14 parishes recorded new cases of the virus.

Kingston and St. Andrews and St Catherine were the parishes that accounted for the bulk of the new infections.

In addition, 16 more people have been hospitalized with the virus moving the total number of patients receiving care for SARS-CoV-2 on the island to 272.

Sixty-seven patients are moderately ill while 34 are in critical condition.

The virus has claimed three more lives; they are a 62 year old woman, a 30 year old woman and a 69 year old men who are all from St Ann.