TRAGIC MILESTONE - Dark day as Jamaica crosses 500 COVID deaths

Jamaica has hit a grim milestone of 500-plus deaths from COVID-19 after the country recorded 13 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total to a staggering 507 with another 57 deaths under investigation.

Another 821 persons also tested positive for the virus, bringing the national tally to 32,728. Nearly four in every 10 persons tested over the past few weeks have the virus.

Newton Dixon, president of the Jamaica Council of Churches, said that the Government may have to take more drastic measures to bring the virus under control.

"We are at an inflection point where we have to decide on a dramatic way of bringing down these rates. I don't want to say what that dramatic method should be, but something definitely needs to be done, whether from the enforcement side or from the epidemiological side," Newton told THE STAR.

Ministry of Health and Wellness data show that a 26-year-old female was among the 13 persons who died on Tuesday, the 10th person under age 30. The 60 and over age group has borne the brunt of the casualties, with 367 seniors losing their lives to COVID-19.

The health ministry said that in 99 per cent of the COVID-19 related deaths, the individual had one or more comorbidity. Of the deceased, 73 per cent were 60 years and older; 55 per cent had cardiovascular disease; 41 per cent had diabetes mellitus; and 12 per cent had chronic renal disease. Six of the persons had no known comorbidity. Their ages range from 36 to 54. Health minister Dr Christopher Tufton described the 500-plus deaths as "a tragic milestone".

"My heart felt condolences goes out to the families and friends. I have seen many persons I know die from this virus, and it's tough to deal with. I can only imagine family members and close friends," he said. Dixon yesterday opined that Jamaicans are no longer scared of COVID-19.

"Persons have began to feel that the disease is not as dangerous as it is being made out to be and a lot of persons have become very irresponsible with their attention to protocols. That should not be the case at all," he said. "I heard of two sad stories over the past few days of persons who died from COVID. These persons had absolutely no form of comorbidities or underlying issue and they have died, one in her 20s and the other early 50s."

He pleaded with Jamaicans to pay attention to the COVID-19 prevention protocols and play their part in the fight against this deadly enemy.

"Now is really the time for us to wake up and realise that the COVID-19 pandemic is not bogus or a simple thing and no one can get rid of it if we don't work together," he said. Tufton said that too many persons are fatigued or economically vulnerable, and seem to have abandoned the protocols.

"My hope is for the vaccine response to restore normality as soon as possible," he said.