No timeline for Jamaica to be COVID-free

There are now 63 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jamaica, as an additional four cases, all from Kingston and St Andrew, were announced by Health Minister Christopher Tufton yesterday.

The three females and one male bring to 11 the number of cases under investigation.

Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, the island's chief medical officer, said Jamaicans should not be alarmed.

"It sounds large, but it actually belongs to two clusters. We have a cluster of six persons and a cluster of three persons. It's not nine individual cases that have just popped up in the community," she said.

The number of imported cases remains at 30, while the number of import-related cases remains at 22.

Yesterday, Prime Ministers Andrew Holness has also announced that the islandwide nightly curfew has been extended. He also said that other COVID-19 containment efforts would also be extended.

These measures are geared towards keeping the COVID-19 cases at a minimum, but there is no certainty as to when Jamaica will be free of the virus, according to Dr Bisasor-McKenzie,

"That is very difficult to predict at this time. Unfortunately, the worry for Jamaica is not going to be dependent largely on internal factors. It really is going to be dependent on what is happening outside of Jamaica ... the spread in countries that have close relations and large traffic to Jamaica, and the developments of treatments that can bring the epidemic to a close," she told THE STAR.

1,100 persons outstanding

Tufton says the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has seen a great increase in the number of returning citizens who have reported to it.

These people entered the island before travel restrictions were imposed.

"Up to the end of last Friday, approximately 1,000 persons have reported into the ministry. Over the last three days, some 3,500 persons have reported into the ministry," Tufton said.

This leaves approximately 1,100 persons outstanding, from the almost 5,500 that were being implored to report to the ministry. He said the tracking of the other persons is ongoing.

Tufton said that the Ministry has partnered with 'key stakeholders' to managing the containment of the virus.

Among the moves, the National Indoor Sports Centre, in anticipation of the community spread of the virus, will be retrofitted with 72 beds and other equipment.