COVID deaths outrunning murders in March

Jamaica has recorded a staggering 101 deaths from COVID-19 in the first 20 days of March. Comparatively, the country recorded 60 murders between March 1 and 17, police data indicates.

The country recorded nine new COVID deaths on Saturday, pushing the tally to 533. A 31-year-old male from Kingston and St Andrew was listed among the deceased. The ages of the other persons who died from the virus range from 61 to 90 years old.

"While our case fatality remains below the global average, the number of deaths is rising. The trauma of losing loved ones is beginning to have a viable psychological and emotional impact on the society," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said yesterday as he announced a new set of COVID-19 containment measures.

Jamaica recorded 673 new cases of the virus on Saturday, moving the country's tally to 35,338. A total of 391 persons are in hospital, 33 of whom are critically ill.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that 84 per cent or more of the isolation capacity in 13 of the country's hospitals have been taken up.

Age group

Based on data from the ministry of health, 3.7 per cent of people in the age group 60-69 who contracted the disease have died. In the 70-79 age group, 7.1 per cent of the people who got COVID-19 passed, and 11.6 per cent of the persons in the 80-89 age group have died.

"I offer my sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones," Prime Minister Holness said.

He told Jamaicans yesterday that the hospitals are stretched and the country has "reached that breaking point".

"It is clear that the level of compliance is not going to be achieved by moral suasion .. It is now clear that the public is at the point where it is no longer of concern to them," the Prime Minister said.

He pointed out that many Jamaicans have been bent of breaching the protocols by going to parties and other events that are considered super spreaders events. The shooting deaths of two persons in his West Central St Andrew constituency on Saturday night did not escape his notice. The men were among five who was attacked as they left a party on Olympic Way.

Holness, pointing to instances of persons being arrested at events by the police for breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, said "it is the ultimate expression of social selfishness" that put the lives of others at risk.