15 more COVID deaths reported as Jamaica records 239 new cases

Fifteen more Jamaicans have died as a result of the coronavirus, increasing the island's COVID death tally to 661.

According to the Ministry of Health's latest clinical summary report, the deaths occured between February 24 - April 7.

Eight of the deceased are from Kingston and St Andrew, a 79-year-old man whose death was previously under investigation, five other men aged 83,70,68,65 and 61, and two women aged 98 and 64.

The other deceased are:

- a 67-year-old male from St. Catherine

- a 60-year-old female from St Catherine

- a 69-year-old male from St. Catherine

- a 67-year-old female from St. Elizabeth

- a 61-year-old male from Portland

- an 78-year-old male from Hanover

- an 81-year-old male from St. James

Meanwhile, of the 905 samples tested in the last 24 hours, 239 returned positive results increasing total confirmed cases to 41,843 with 22,197 being active.

Of the new cases, 136 are males and 103 are females, with ages ranging from 8 days to 100 years.

St Catherine recorded the most new cases with 78, followed by  Kingston and St Andrew with 70.

Trelwany was the only parish to not record any new infections. 

In the meantime, there were 124 more recoveries, pushing the total to 18,690.

Some 404 persons are in hospital with 41 being moderately and 47 critically ill.

The number of persons in government quarantine have increased to 26, while 27,746 are quarantined at home.

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