COVID-19 Official Press Releases and Other Official Information From The Ministry of Health and Wellness and The Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton
In descending chronological order:
- April 2 MOHW Press Release – 47 Confirmed Cases
- April 1 Dr Christopher Tufton Twitter Feed – 44 Confirmed Cases
- March 31 MOHW Press Release – 38 Confirmed Cases
- March 29 MOHW Late Press Release – 36 Confirmed Cases
- March 29 MOHW Early Press Release – 34 Confirmed Cases
- March 28 MOHW Press Release – 32 Confirmed Cases
- March 27 MOHW Press Release – 30 Confirmed Cases
- March 24 MOHW Press Release – 25 Confirmed Cases
- March 19 MOHW Press Release – 16 Confirmed Cases
- March 19 MOHW Press Release – 1st Death
- Hospitals Taking Only One Visitor Per Patient
- March 16 MOHW Press Release – 5 More Confirmed Cases
- March 15 MOHW Press Release – 2 More Confirmed Cases
- March 13 MOHW Press Release – 6 More Confirmed Cases
- March 10 MOHW Press Release – 1st Imported Case
- February 13 MOHW Press Release – 2 Negative
- February 13 MOHW Press Release – 1 Negative
- February 6 MOHW Press Release – 300 Trained
April 2 MOHW Press Release – 47 Confirmed Cases
April 1 Dr Christopher Tufton Twitter Feed – 44 Confirmed Cases
- Jamaica how has 44 confirmed cases and 3 deaths for #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
- All 6 new cases are related to the quarantined community of Corn Piece Settlement in Clarendon
- The indexed case shows that the virus is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS. We must confine ourselves to restrictions made by government
- The testing has been sufficient to date in indicating presence of virus in population. It also allows us to monitor frontline workers and allows general testing for persons with respiratory ailments. However, plans are in place to be rolled to be absolutely certain.
- Between now and weekend, we should roll out mobile testing.
@themohwgovjm will engage mobile branded units and they will be deployed across country. Starting with @theserhajm and @mohnerha #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
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Persons with the desire to be tested will be examined, if they meet requirements, samples will be taken and test administered. #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
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App/website to be published, for persons to sign up if they want to be tested. NB: If you want to be tested, you won’t definitely be tested, you have to meet requirements as said in above tweet. #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
- Community Quarantine: Corn Piece quarantine still quarantined, with 6 cases linked to the initial case. #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
- Community Quarantine: We are also monitoring 69 households in Portland Cottage, Clarendon. – 279 persons have been interviewed – 7 persons have been placed into isolation #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
- @themohwgovjm will shortly sign an agreement with the Andrew’s Memorial Hospital to be used as an extension of the Kingston Public Hospital. As needed patients, who are admitted as KPH will be housed at Andrew’s #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
- Parish by Parish Breakdown of the now 44 confirmed cases: Clarendon – 10 Hanover -0 Kgn & St Andrew – 12 Manchester – 4 Portland – 1 St Ann – 5 St Catherine – 4 St Elizabeth – 1 St Mary – 1 St James – 4 St Thomas – 0 Westmoreland – 2 Trelawny – 0 #Covid19Jamaica #JaCovid19
- Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie CMO of the @themohwgovjm clarifies earlier statement: There 50 households in Corn Piece being monitored. The additional households are in other Clarendon communities of Portland Cottage, Longeville Park and Hague. #COVID19Jamaica #JACOVID19
extracted from: https://twitter.com/christufton/status/1245462918822596609
March 31 MOHW Press Release – 38 Confirmed Cases
March 29 MOHW Late Press Release – 36 Confirmed Cases
March 29 MOHW Early Press Release – 34 Confirmed Cases
March 28 MOHW Press Release – 32 Confirmed Cases
March 27 MOHW Press Release – 30 Confirmed Cases
Jamaica records 30 COVID-19 cases
Jamaica now has 30 confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) cases.
Included in that number are four new confirmed cases in the last 48 hours, notably:
- A 87-year-old female from Manchester with a travel history that includes New York;
- A 51-year-old male from St Catherine with a travel history that includes New York;
- A 52-year-old male with no travel history, but who is a close contact (husband) of a visitor from Canada, who reported ill upon her return to Canada; and
- A 56-year-old male from Manchester with no travel history, but who was in contact with tourists from several countries. The investigation on this case continues.
The island has had only one confirmed COVID-19-related death.
Of the now 30 confirmed cases, twenty (20) are imported cases and eight (8) are import-related. Two (2) are under investigation.
Come tomorrow (Saturday, March 28) the communities of 7 & 8 Miles, Bull Bay will be out of quarantine. Corn Piece Settlement in Clarendon will remain under quarantine until April 2.
Thirteen (13) persons are under quarantine in a Government facility and 289 are under home quarantine – not including the residents of the communities under quarantine. Forty-seven (47) persons are in isolation.
extracted from https://www.moh.gov.jm/jamaica-records-30-covid-19-cases/
March 24 MOHW Press Release – 25 Confirmed Cases
March 19 MOHW Press Release – 16 Confirmed Cases
Jamaica records 16 cases of COVID-19
Jamaica now has sixteen (16) confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The latest case is a 57-year-old male with a travel history to New York. He arrived in the island on March 10 and visited his private physician on March 16. He reported having had symptoms for six days.
The necessary contact tracing is now being done.
Meanwhile, Jamaica reported its first COVID-19-related death on March 18. The deceased is a 79-year-old man, also with a travel history to New York. He also had diabetes and hypertension.
Members of the public are reminded to take the following steps, as part of efforts to stay safe:
- STAY HOME if you are ill and having fever and/or respiratory symptoms.
- Maintain a distance of at least one metre from other persons.
- Frequently perform hand hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discarding it.
- And resist the habit to touch your face.
Further, public gatherings and non-essential travel are discouraged.
For more information, contact the Ministry of Health & Wellness at the COVID-19 lines: 888-754-7792 and 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683). Additional numbers to call are 876-542-5998, 876-542-6007 and 876-542-6006.
Information and updates on COVID-19 can also be found at the Ministry’s website at https://www.moh.gov.jm and social media platforms @themohwgovjm. Members of the public may also email covid19@moh.gov.jm or jacovid19facts@gmail.com.
extracted from https://www.moh.gov.jm/jamaica-records-16-cases-of-covid-19/
March 19 MOHW Press Release – 1st Death
Jamaica records first COVID-19 death
On Wednesday, March 18, Jamaica recorded its first death related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The deceased is a 79-year-old man from Clarendon with a travel history from New York. He presented to the Lionel Town Hospital on March 16 with fever, cough and shortness of breath.
At that time, he was noted to be critically ill and was transferred to the Mandeville Public General Hospital where he was isolated and treated. He showed improvement on March 17 but his condition started to deteriorate on March 18. The elderly man, who was known to have diabetes and hypertension, died at approximately 3:00 pm.
Jamaica has now had 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19, eleven (11) of them due to direct travelers and five (5) related to the first confirmed case.
Members of the public are reminded to take the following steps to help keep themselves safe:
- STAY HOME if you are ill and having fever and/or respiratory symptoms.
- Maintain a distance of at least one metre from other persons.
- Frequently perform hand hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discarding it.
- And resist the habit to touch your face.
Further, public gatherings and non-essential travel are discouraged.
For more information, contact the Ministry of Health & Wellness at the COVID-19 lines: 888-754-7792 and 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683). Additional numbers to call are 876-542-5998, 876-542-6007 and 876-542-6006.
In addition to the numbers provided, information and updates on COVID-19 can be found at the Ministry’s website at https://www.moh.gov.jm and social media platforms @themohwgovjm. Members of the public may also email covid19@moh.gov.jm or jacovid19facts@gmail.com.
extracted from: https://www.moh.gov.jm/jamaica-records-first-covid-19-death/
Hospitals Taking Only One Visitor Per Patient
Hospitals taking only one visitor per patient
Hospital visits are now reduced to once per day and to one visitor per patient, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness pursues efforts to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Also, operations at Outpatient Clinics in public hospitals have been scaled back while some services at Type I and Type II facilities are suspended. Food Handlers Clinics are also suspended.
These steps are to allow public health nurses and public health inspectors to assist in the contact tracing process for persons exposed to COVID-19.
In the meantime, members of the public are reminded to take the following steps.
- STAY HOME if you are ill and having fever and/or respiratory symptoms.
- Maintain a distance of at least one metre from other persons.
- Frequently perform hand hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discarding it.
- And resist the habit to touch your face.
Further, public gatherings and non-essential travel are discouraged.
For more information, contact the Ministry of Health & Wellness at the COVID-19 lines: 888-754-7792 and 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683). Additional numbers to call are 876-542-5998, 876-542-6007 and 876-542-6006.
In addition to the numbers provided, information and updates on COVID-19 can be found at the Ministry’s website at https://www.moh.gov.jm and social media platforms @themohwgovjm. Members of the public may also email covid19@moh.gov.jm or jacovid19facts@gmail.com.
extracted from: https://www.moh.gov.jm/hospitals-taking-only-one-visitor-per-patient/
March 16 MOHW Press Release – 5 More Confirmed Cases
March 15 MOHW Press Release
March 13 MOHW Press Release – 6 More Confirmed Cases
Jamaica confirms 6 new COVID-19 cases
Jamaica has confirmed six new cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the island.
The cases, which bring to eight the number of confirmed cases, include:
- Two males, aged 63 and 67, who came into the island on March 7 from Trinidad, having travelled from Malaysia by way of Dubai and London. They presented at hospital on March 11.
- One male, 36, who travelled from Manchester, England. He was taken to hospital from his hotel via ambulance on March 11.
- One male, 31, a Jamaican overseas ship worker who came in from the Canary Islands via Portugal and Miami. He arrived in the island on February 25 and presented to hospital with symptoms on March 10.
- One male, 58, who is the father of the first patient who was confirmed with COVID-19. He was discovered ill at home on March 11.
- And one female, 34, who is a close contact, also of the first patient who was confirmed with COVID-19 on the island.
The Minister of Health and Wellness Dr the Honourable Christopher Tufton will meet with the media on Friday afternoon to provide further details. He is currently examining the level of preparedness for COVID-19 in western Jamaica.
extracted from: https://www.moh.gov.jm/jamaica-confirms-6-new-covid-19-cases/
March 10 MOHW Press Release – 1st Imported Case
Jamaica confirms first imported Coronavirus case
Jamaica today confirmed its first imported case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) here in Kingston.
The patient is a Jamaican female who had travelled from the United Kingdom, which has cases of COVID-19. She arrived in the island on March 4, presented to the public health system on March 9 and has been in isolation since then.
Based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms, health professionals suspected COVID-19. A clinical sample was collected and sent to the National Influenza Centre, where laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis today at approximately 11:00 am. The patient and family members have been informed.
The patient’s infection was travel-related. However, steps are being taken to prevent the risk of community spread.
These measures include:
- The dispatch of a health team to the home of the patient for assessment and initiation of public health measures.
- The identification and contact tracing for all possible exposed persons.
- Meeting of Ministry officials with members of staff at the hospital and the necessary interventions put in place.
In addition, imposed travel restrictions remain in place, with three countries now added to the list of five (China, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, and Iran) previously made public. They are Spain, France and Germany.
At the same time:
- Public gatherings are discouraged.
- Non-essential travel is discouraged.
- Patrol of irregular border crossings is ongoing.
- Sensitisation of key personnel at all air and sea ports is ongoing.
- FOUR (4) quarantine facilities have been designated and others are to be identified.
- Retrofitting of isolation facilities in public hospitals being finalised.
Minister of Health Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton has also named a COVID-19 Response Advisory team that will support the Ministry’s planning and coordination with respect of this public health challenge. The team include:
- Howard Mitchell, former president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica;
- Christopher Zacca, CEO, Sagicor;
- Owen Ellington, former Commissioner of Police;
- Devon Dick, Jamaica Baptist Union;
- Marina Ramkisoon, Deputy Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI;
- Commander Wenyss Gorman, JDF;
- Lieutenant Colonel Sydney Powell, JDF; and
- ACP Calvin Allen, JCF.
The public is urged to adhere to infection prevention and control measures, notably to:
- Maintain a distance of at least one metre from persons who are coughing or sneezing.
- Frequently perform hand hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled.
- Cover our mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discarding it.
- And resist the habit to touch our faces.
For additional information, the public is encouraged to contact 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683).
extracted from: https://www.moh.gov.jm/jamaica-confirms-first-imported-coronavirus-case/
February 13 MOHW Press Release – 2 Negative
Two other patients test negative for Novel Coronavirus
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is advising the public that the test results for all three patients who were placed in isolation for investigation of the Novel Coronavirus have come back negative.
The results for the second and third patients were received today (Feb 13) from the Caribbean Public Health Agency, following on the receipt of the first from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday (Feb 12).
The first patient, who had arrived in Jamaica on January 30, presented at the Annotto Bay Hospital and was later isolated for further investigation. The public was informed on February 10 and February 12 respectively of the second and third person being put in isolation.
In the case of the second, the individual had an elevated temperature, which was detected while in quarantine. The third individual was put in isolation after being detected with a fever on arrival at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on February 11. All three patients will now be discharged, given their negative test results.
The Ministry is reminding the public that quarantine and isolation procedures are in place to allow for the detection and early investigation of all persons who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Ministry is also reminding the public that infection prevention precautions, such as frequent hand washing; coughing and sneezing in tissue and discarding it; as well as avoiding contact with ill persons must be practiced by all. Further, persons who are having flu-like symptoms must stay away from other persons to prevent the spread of infection.
extracted from: https://www.moh.gov.jm/two-other-patients-test-negative-for-novel-coronavirus/
February 13 MOHW Press Release – 1 Negative
Patient Tests Negative for Novel Coronavirus – A third Jamaican Isolated
The Ministry of Health and Wellness would like to advise the public that the results for the first patient, who was placed in isolation, have come back negative for the novel Coronavirus (COVID19). The results were received on Wednesday, February 12 from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. This patient had arrived in Jamaica on January 30 and presented at the Annotto Bay Hospital and later isolated for further investigation. The patient will now be discharged. The public was informed on February 10, 2020 of a second person that was isolated after an elevated temperature was detected while the person was being monitored in a government quarantine facility. A sample has been taken and sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing.
In the meantime, a third Jamaican has been put in isolation following arrival into the island at the Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James. The traveler arrived on Tuesday, February 11 and underwent the relevant protocols in keeping with the current travel restrictions. The Jamaican, who had traveled from China was discovered to have had a fever and was immediately isolated.
“This patient has been isolated in keeping with our protocols whereby anyone who has travelled from China in the last 14 days prior to arrival and has symptoms will be isolated and investigations carried out.” The next steps for this patient will include management of the fever and any other symptoms that develop. A sample has already been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), where it will be tested for the novel coronavirus, (COVID 19). We expect a 48-hour turnaround time for the results once the sample is received.” Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, Chief Medical Officer noted.
The Ministry wishes to remind the public that the quarantine and isolation procedures are in place to detect and investigate early, all persons who may have been exposed to the virus. The Ministry further advises that infection prevention precautions such as, frequent hand washing; coughing and sneezing in tissue and discarding it, as well as, avoiding contact with ill persons must be practiced by all. Persons who are having flu-like symptoms must stay away from other persons to prevent spread of the infection.
extracted from: https://www.moh.gov.jm/patient-tests-negative-for-novel-coronavirus-a-third-jamaican-isolated/
February 6 MOHW Press Release – 300 Trained
Over 300 trained in Coronavirus Response
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has trained some 329 frontline employees at the Norman Manley International and Sangster’s International Airports, as Jamaica continues its preparedness for a possible introduction of the novel coronavirus to the island. Persons facilitated in the training programme included employees from Immigration, Customs, Port Health, Airport Police, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Aviation Services, various Airlines personnel and managers at Ports.
The training focused on the role and responsibilities of the point of entries staff and employees to remain observant and vigilant and how to tactically identify infectious or potentially infectious persons and to swiftly implement appropriate interventions such as quarantine, when deemed necessary.
The novel coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, China last year. Symptoms include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. More severe infections can cause pneumonia, kidney failure and even death.
The World Health Organization has declared the novel Coronavirus as a global health emergency.