Panic cramps Corn Piece, Clarendon after first COVID-19 death
Published:Wednesday | March 18, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Damion Mitchell, Integration Editor
Panic has frozen the southern Clarendon community of Corn Piece Settlement near Lionel Town following reports that one of its residents is Jamaica's first patient to die as a result of the Coronavirus.
The 79-year-old male whose name is being withheld recently returned to Jamaica from New York.
He had a history of diabetes and hypertension.
A resident of his Clarendon community who asked to remain anonymous told The Gleaner a short while ago that since news of the death, some corner shops have closed.
She also said operators have started to disinfect their shops with bleach.
The woman said too that residents have also intensified their cleaning their homes.
But at her house, she said her family members are remaining at home unless they must go out.
"Wi a stay in," she said.
In the meantime, the Health Ministry says it is now seeking to trace all the people with whom the deceased patient may have come in contact.
They are among 434 people from several parishes being traced.
Thirty-two of them are showing symptoms of coronavirus.
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