Holness, docs split on COVID surge strategy

The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) has rejected as misguided Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ strategy to halt runaway coronavirus infections, insisting that the proposed ramping up of vaccination could not stave off the current avalanche of cases.

Healthcare administrators are fearful of a return to the near collapse of hospital services in last summer’s third COVID-19 wave, but a 431 per cent increase in infections within the southeast region of the island appears not to be compelling enough for Holness to impose tighter pandemic measures to retrench soaring cases.

The prime minister doubled down on his position during a Jamaica House press conference on Sunday that there would be no more lockdowns.

“I have been very clear in Parliament, absolutely, gone overboard to say we are not going back to lockdowns. So, be calm,” he said in a testy response to a question.

Holness said the Government’s strategy to reduce cases, hospitalisations, and deaths amid the fourth wave is vaccination.

Many countries are reinstituting mask mandates, which have never been relaxed in Jamaica; reimposing lockdowns; and broadening the scope of vaccine passes.

“It is now in your hands. Go and take the vaccine. That is the strategy. We can’t hold you down and put the needle in your hand. If you get sick, you take that responsibility ... . Argument done!” said Holness.

But MAJ President Dr Brian James has concluded that an improved vaccination strategy can only be beneficial in the fifth iteration of the outbreak.

“Vaccination will have no effect on the fourth wave at this moment,” James said.

In a Gleaner interview on Sunday, he said the Government should revert to the online modality for schools, perhaps till February, until there is a significant reduction in cases.

He also urged greater enforcement of coronavirus safety protocols.

James said the nightly curfews should be revisited to reflect longer hours, beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. The current curfew runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

He said consideration ought to be given to lessening the time for quarantine and isolation for healthcare workers affected by COVID-19, arguing that the number of colleagues out because of quarantine or isolation is nearing “crisis proportions”.

“It’s a significantly worrying proportion. We now have a situation where the numbers are going up in terms of hospitalisation and the numbers are going down in terms of available healthcare workers to take care of these people. Of course, that is a perfect storm,” the medical doctor said.

Jamaica on Saturday recorded 1,499 new infections and four deaths. COVID-19 hospitalisations stood at 310, with 10 critical, 40 severely ill, and 77 moderately sick.

Data requested by The Gleaner from the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) show that over a one-month period, between November 15 and December 15, there were 706 new infections. But the fourth wave of the coronavirus has sparked surging infections, with 3,749 new cases recorded between December 15 and January 6, .

Up to January 6, two hundred and forty-two healthcare workers were out of office, with 136 testing positive for the virus and 106 in quarantine.

The Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), too, reported an 81 per cent increase in cases between December 15 and January 5. Between November 15 and December 6, officials had recorded 93 cases.

Hospital cases also increased, SRHA said, moving from seven on December 15 to 37 as at January 5.

COVID-19 bed occupancy at the Mandeville Regional Hospital stood at 47 per cent up to January 5; May Pen Hospital 52 per cent; Black River 17 per cent; Percy Junor 25 per cent; and Lionel Town Hospital 45.5 per cent.

Only one of the patients admitted is fully vaccinated.

The North East Regional Health Authority did not respond to The Gleaner’s request for data, while the Western Regional Health Authority has indicated that there has not yet been any significant increase in cases.

In a recent Gleaner interview, Dr Wilmore Webley, associate professor of microbiology at the University of Massachusetts, said the country has become a victim of its own success experienced at the beginning of the pandemic.

“What is going to happen is that we’re going to keep having variant after variant if we don’t have serious measures in place,” the Jamaican said.

He said the Holness administration will have to employ the Swiss cheese model to keep ahead of the pandemic, arguing that there is no single mitigation against COVID-19 that is 100 per cent.

“You hold up one slice to the sunlight, light is going to come through,” Webley said of the Swiss cheese strategy.

“But if you keep adding another layer and another layer, eventually all of the holes will be blocked,” he added, noting that it is important that vaccinated people continue to follow protocols.

He has also insisted that there needs to be widespread and increased access to testing.