COVID screws to tighten as deaths, cases mount
Published:Monday | September 7, 2020 | 12:28 AM
COVID-19 cases continued to mount in Jamaica on Sunday, with the country recording 79 new cases and a 33rd death.
The latest deceased is a 54-year-old man from St James. Five other deaths of COVID-19-positive individuals are under investigation.
Sunday’s cases bring to 3,103 the number of coronavirus infections in Jamaica.
The Government is expected to announce today a tightening of restrictions on movement, including longer curfew hours, among other measures to curb transmission.
This move comes after the Ministry of Health and Wellness confirmed on Friday that the country was officially in the community spread phase. However, the ministry did not make the disclosure on the eve of the September 3 election when the community spread designation had been made.
COVID-19 cases are expected to rise further after a brisk election campaign that saw widespread flouting of social-distancing and mask-wearing protocols.
Of the newly confirmed cases, there are 50 females and 29 males, with ages ranging from one year to 76. The cases were recorded in St Catherine (34), Kingston and St Andrew (28), St Ann (nine), St Elizabeth (three), Clarendon (two), Portland (two), and Manchester (one).
Two of the new cases are contacts of confirmed cases while the remaining 77 are under investigation.
Just under 960 people have recovered from the disease.