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Health Ministry's handheld temperature machine stolen from airport

Published:Tuesday | January 28, 2020 | 12:00 AM
In this April, 2014 photo, Marion Bullock-DuCasse, director of emergency, disaster management and special services in the health ministry tests the hand held temperature machine on a man. Looking on from right are: Beverley Creary, public health nurse and Sheryl Haynes, nurse for the Norman Manley International Airport at the handing over of the device at the Norman Manley International Airport.

Damion Mitchell, Integration Editor

The Health Ministry is reporting that its digital handheld thermal scanner used to detect high fever has been stolen from the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

According to acting chief medical officer Dr Karen Webster Kerr, the discovery was made last week.

However, she said health authorities have analog devices in storage which will be sent to the airport.

In the meantime, Webster Kerr says health authorities may rely on other thermal devices available at the airport.

“Remember Airport Authority has theirs as well because they have their nurses and so on. So, we work together as a team because all agencies collaborate at any port,” she said.

She says the appropriate protocol including the filing of reports will be undertaken in relation to the theft.

The acting chief medical officer was speaking with The Gleaner at the Health Ministry in New Kingston this afternoon following a press conference.

The press conference was called to address claims that a case of the Coronavirus had been detected in Jamaica.

However, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has dismissed the claims.

Reports indicated that a patient, suspected to have had the virus, was isolated at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

However, Dr Carl Bruce of the UHWI says the patient has no symptoms of the Coronavirus and should be discharged soon.

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