KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health and Wellness on Thursday, August 18, reported 177 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths, bringing the infection total to 148,627 and total deaths to 3,235.

The new cases comprise 100 females and 77 males, with ages ranging from one day to 108 years.

The cases were recorded in Kingston and St Andrew (59), St Catherine (33), St Ann (22), St Elizabeth (13), St James (10), Westmoreland (nine), Clarendon (eight), Manchester (seven), Hanover (five),

Trelawny (four), St Thomas (three), St Mary (three) and Portland (one).

The deceased are:

1. A 19-year-old female from St Mary who died in April 2021

2. A 23-year-old female from Westmoreland who died in August 2021

3. A 74-year-old male from St Mary who died in June 2022

4. A 72-year-old male from Kingston and St Andrew who died in July 2022, and

5. A 43-year-old male from St Catherine who died in August 2022.

There were 93 recoveries in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 95,494.

Currently, 113 people are hospitalised, 20 of whom are moderately ill, five severely ill and two critically ill.

Jamaica’s positivity rate for the latest round of testing was 30 per cent.

There are 1,400 active cases of COVID-19 on the island.