Epidemic
viral pandemic in Jamaica
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in Jamaica on 10 March 2020. This was during the 2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic that affected Latin America and the Caribbean.
On 11 January 2022, Jamaica overtook China in terms of the number of confirmed cases.
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Text from the Wikipedia article “2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in Jamaica on 10 March 2020. This was during the 2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic that affected Latin America and the Caribbean.
On 11 January 2022, Jamaica overtook China in terms of the number of confirmed cases.
The government announced a travel ban between China and Jamaica, with all people entering Jamaica from China subject to immediate quarantine for at least 14 days, and anyone who was allowed to land and shows symptoms of the virus put in immediate isolation. In keeping with the new policy, 19 Chinese nationals who arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on the evening of 31 January were denied entry, quarantined, and put on a flight back to China on 1 February.
On 10 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed the first case in Jamaica, a female patient who arrived from the United Kingdom on 4 March. The health minister reported that the patient has been in isolation since 9 March after showing respiratory symptoms. Following the update, the travel ban imposed was expanded to include France, Germany, and Spain. On 11 March, the country's health minister Christopher Tufton confirmed the second "imported" case of COVID-19. On 13 March, the country announced six additional cases – including the father and another female patient of the first patient. Later that day, the government announced that the community of Bull Bay — where the funeral attended by the first patient took place — was placed under quarantine for 14 days. With four of the cases involving patients travelling through or from the United Kingdom, the country's foreign minister Kamina Johnson-Smith announced that the travel ban would be expanded to include the United Kingdom. On 15 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed that 19 suspected cases were reported and the patients tested. Of the 19 suspected cases, only two patients were confirmed as having the virus - one coming from Trinidad and Tobago and the other who had "contact tracing from the index case". In the same update, the Ministry confirmed that there were twenty-seven patients in isolation facilities and that Patients 1 and 2 no longer exhibit any symptoms. On 16 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) reported that there were five preliminary confirmed cases. Later that day, the government confirmed that only two of the five reported cases tested positive for COVID-19. In response to the increase in cases, the government announced further social distancing measures such as imposed remote work directives, the banning of all mass gatherings of more than 20 people, and the shuttering of bars, restaurants, sporting events, et cetera. On 17 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) confirmed another case - someone who attended the same funeral as Patient 1. On 18 March, the Chief Medical Officer of Jamaica confirmed the first COVID-19 death in the country. At the same press conference, the health ministry confirmed two additional cases. Between 19 and 31 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed an additional 22 cases bringing the total to 38 - including the first patient under the age of 18 years - with three having travel history in United States. Additionally, the health ministry announced the second coronavirus related death, a previously recovering patient who was determined to have died from cardiac arrest; and, the second recovered patient who has since been released from hospital. Of the two new cases, one was identified through contact tracing and was found to have been near two patients. The government also reported the recovery of the first patient in Jamaica.
In light of these and other developments, the government announced the following measures:
Between 1 and 4 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 17 additional cases bringing the total to 55. Six of the cases were from the Corn Piece community in Clarendon and three had a history travel from New York. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 06 patients bringing the total to 08; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 03.
On 5 April, the Queen of Jamaica addressed the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast, in which she asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return". She added, "we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again".
Between 5 and 11 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 14 additional cases - including three patients with travel histories from Brazil and New York. With this update, the number of COVID-19 infections stood at 69. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 05 patients bringing the total to 13; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 04.
Between 12 and 18 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 69 additional cases bringing the number of COVID-19 infections to 173. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 14 patients bringing the total to 27; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 05. The majority of the cases are related to a call centre in Portmore, Saint Catherine. In response, the Government of Jamaica announced a week long lockdown for the parish of Saint Catherine. The health ministry announced that one of its staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus; and, that its head offices will be closed on 17 April for cleaning and that staff (including, Permanent Secretary Mr. Dunstan Bryan) ordered to home quarantine. This week also saw the largest increase in daily confirmed cases to date.
Between 19 and 25 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 132 additional cases bringing the number of COVID-19 infections to 305. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 01 patient bringing the total to 28; and, the death of 02 patients bringing the death toll to 07. To date, 165 out of 305 cases are linked to the call centre workplace cluster.
Between 26 and 30 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 117 additional cases bringing the number of COVID-19 infections to 422. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of another patient bringing the total to 29; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 08. The health ministry this week announced an investigation into the death of a young mother who died from complications from childbirth after being reportedly turned away from several public and private hospitals owing her showing symptoms of COVID-19. To date, 257 cases have been directly and indirectly linked to the call centre workplace cluster. This week also marked the largest increase in daily confirmed cases to date, overtaking the previous record of 32 new cases.
In light of these and other developments, the government announced the following measures:
Text from the Wikipedia article “COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.