Large hospitals over capacity for COVID-19 admissions: health ministry

As COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the island, plunging the country into a third wave of the virus, the Ministry of Health is reporting that all large hospitals are now over their capacity for admissions.

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan, the situation has forced them to recall some healthcare workers from vacation, particularly for the western region, which is the hardest hit.

Data from the health ministry has revealed that admissions at the University Hospital of the West Indies are at 100 per cent; Cornwall Regional Hospital is at 110 per cent; Spanish Town Hospital is at 160 per cent; May Pen Hospital is at 108 per cent; Mandeville Hospital is at 160 per cent; Sav-la-mar Hospital is 167 per cent and St Ann’s Bay Hospital is at 135 per cent.

“Hospitals across the island are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. In anticipation of further increases in bed occupancy, the regional health authorities have been advised to review and revise leave rosters to ensure that there is adequate staff coverage,” health minister Dr Christopher Tufton said in a statement last night.

“This measure, together with the resumption of vaccinations, is being implemented as the ministry activates its surge plan to cope with the third wave of COVID-19 now impacting the island. Our hospitals are under severe constraints and this is likely to have implications for elective or non-emergency procedures. The public will be updated in the days to come.”

In just over a month, Westmoreland (now with 51 COVID-19 cases) has recorded a 24 per cent increase, the highest in the country. Hanover (30 cases), Manchester (36) and St Ann (55) are also trending up. Kingston and St Andrew has the highest, with 69 cases.

On Saturday, Jamaica recorded 379 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 54,859. Of that number, 6,037 are active, with 272 patients hospitalized, up from 256 a day earlier. Some 67 patients were moderately ill and 34 critical.

The positivity rate now stands at an alarming 37.8 per cent. 1,222 Jamaicans have so far died from the virus.

Islandwide vaccinations will resume today, which follows a week-long vaccination blitz that saw more than 63,000 Jamaicans inoculated. This brings the total number of vaccinations to some 372,911. Of that number, 240,472 are first doses, 131,554 are second doses and 885 are single doses.

The health ministry is seeking to administer some 700,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of September, in pursuit of the target to have 65 per cent of the Jamaican population vaccinated by March 2022.