PM Holness declares new measures as Jamaica’s COVID-19 cases rise
A new suite of containment measures has
been announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness as Jamaica confirmed two new
cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the national tally to 21.
Holness, who was speaking at a press conference
at Jamaica House on Monday (March 23), said that schools would remain closed
until the end of Easter. The current order closing schools, which ends on Friday,
March 27, will be replaced and extended.
Additionally, public gatherings, which had a 20-person limit, will now be allowed up to, but not exceeding, ten people. Only special exemptions will be allowed for elderly persons at or above the age of 75 years, who are being asked to always stay home.
All public sector workers 65 years and
older are to work from home. The new stipulations come into effect on Wednesday,
March 25 and last for an initial period of two weeks.
“All persons 75 years and older must stay
home, subject to exemptions that are to be specified and this will take effect
on the 25th day of March 2020 for 14 days,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Every person who entered Jamaica on or
since Wednesday, March 18, will now be subject to a mandatory 21-day quarantine
protocol.
In the meantime, Minister of Health and
Wellness Christopher Tufton said that the two newest patients are both male.
The first male is a 61-year-old with a travel history that includes Florida, Dubai, Tanzania, and Egypt. The other confirmed patient was a 51-year-old from Westmoreland. The man, with undisclosed chronic illness, was identified through contact tracing, having interacted with two imported cases of COVID-19.
Minister Tufton further disclosed that
among the 21 cases, 13 patients were men, with the remaining eight being women.
What’s more, 51 persons are being isolated in government facilities islandwide.
Delivering a situation report from Corn Piece,
Clarendon which is under a community-wide quarantine, the minister stated that
health officials are investigating 216 persons in the area.
Of that number, 29 have been suspected of
having ‘moderate to high’ exposure with a 79-year-old patient who returned to
the island from New York. He died last Wednesday (March 18). Another 180 community
members are being screened for possible exposure. It was not immediately
disclosed what was the status of the remaining seven persons.
In terms of contact tracing, Tufton further
explained that public health departments across all parishes are investigating 542
persons in relation to Jamaica’s 21 confirmed cases.