Health ministry cautions public about rising COVID numbers

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging the public to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves and others in light of the continued increase in COVID-19 cases.

As of July 18, Jamaica has recorded 155,705 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,588 COVID-19 deaths. In a media release on Thursday, the ministry noted that 227 COVID-19 cases recorded in the past week represented a 290 per cent increase over the previous week's figures. The weekly positivity rate was 22.7 per cent, representing an increase over the previous week.

The ministry noted that weekly visits to public health facilities for influenza-like illnesses have decreased in all age categories over the past month. However, over the same period, weekly admissions for lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia) increased to 132, which is higher than the expected 100 to 120 admissions per week levels. The increase in respiratory infections is due to COVID-19 and sporadic cases of influenza B and influenza A. The highly transmissible Omicron remains the dominant COVID-19 variant that is currently circulating in Jamaica, and in particular, the XBB.1.5 strain.

The ministry noted that COVID-19 isolation and general hospital occupancy levels have also increased over the past week with the Southern Regional Health Authority, Western Regional Health Authority and South East Regional Health Authority reporting the highest occupancy. Currently, there are 120 patients in hospital isolation across the country. Of that number, 55 were confirmed positive and 65 were suspected cases of COVID-19. There are currently 22 moderately ill and two severely ill patients. There are no critically ill patients in hospital at this time.

"All Jamaicans are advised to protect themselves by adhering to hand washing/hand sanitisation; physical distancing; wearing of masks and covering your cough and sneeze. At the same time, persons affected by COVID-19 are still expected to isolate themselves to reduce the spread of the virus," the ministry said.

The ministry also noted that COVID-19 vaccines are available, and encouraged all eligible Jamaicans, especially the vulnerable populations to take the vaccine or a booster dose(s).

Globally as of July 12, there have been 767,972,961 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 6,950,655 deaths. The main COVID-19 variant that is currently circulating is Omicron - the XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.5 strains.