Biggest number of moderately ill COVID patients

The health ministry yesterday announced that Jamaica has eight COVID patients, representing the highest ever counted as moderately ill.

The eight are part of a record increase in the number of positive COVID-19 hospitalisations. The number, which includes confirmed and suspected positive cases, stands at 35.

The country is managing 100 active cases, with 11 new positives being identified, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 905.

The ministry also revealed that the two most recent COVID-related fatalities were patients who had multiple co-morbidities.

Both patients died within hours of presenting at the accident and emergency departments of two public hospitals, where they were undergoing treatment.

The deaths were announced on Sunday. One case was a 64-year-old male from Clarendon who died on July 21, while the second case was a 73-year-old female from St Thomas who died on July 31.

Both cases were detected through the hospital respiratory surveillance system and COVID-19 confirmation came after death.

At the same time, recoveries remained at 743, while 50 cases have returned to their countries of origin.