#JaCovid19

OPM Press Conference

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THREAD https://twitter.com/andrewholnessjm/status/1295430635520024576

As the country may be aware, the Government of Jamaica, based on the information provided by the @themohwgovjm through its continued monitoring and surveillance exercises for COVID-19, has instituted the quarantine of communities within St. Thomas & Clarendon.

The St. Thomas communities include Bamboo River, Church Corner and Summit. To date, the MOHW has conducted more than 300 home visits and collected over 700 samples.

@themohwgovjm #Jacovid19

Based on test results received, we can now report that approximately 89 persons have been identified as being positive for COVID-19.

@themohwgovjm #JaCovid19

Forty-five (45) of that number are within the quarantine area. The surveillance activities have also identified more symptomatic persons who have been tested and are awaiting results.

@themohwgovjm #JaCovid19

This evidence points to continued transmission of the disease within these communities and in order to manage the risks & spread associated with COVID-19, it has been agreed that the quarantine period which should have ended on August 20, be extended to September 3, 2020.

Additionally, approximately 20 communities within the parish of St. Thomas have been impacted with new COVID-19 cases. These communities span the entire length of the parish and indicates an increase threat of community transmission.

In order to contain the spread of disease and the risk of exposure within the parish of St. Thomas, Cabinet has also decided to adjust the orders within the Disaster Risk Management Act to, effective today:

• increase the curfew period from 11:00 pm-5:00 am to 7:00 pm-5:00 am for the next 14 days

• Disallow funeral services in the parish (however burials only will be allowed with no more than 15 persons in attendance)

• Disallow weddings and all other public gatherings.

The MOHW also advised that there are additional communities of concern within the parish and that measures will be recommended to manage the spread of disease within these areas.

As soon as the Cabinet is advised, a decision will be made, based on the evidence of spread, the risk to the communities and the public health priority.

CLARENDON

The quarantine area in Clarendon (Sandy Bay and adjoining communities) is also seeing new cases of persons with symptoms. To date, the MOHW has advised that their surveillance has covered more than 900 households, with more than 2,000 individuals interviewed.

Based on the testing that has been done, some 22 persons have been identified as COVID-19 positive. This scenario also represents a persistent threat to public health and therefore the decision has been made to also extend the quarantine period for these communities by 14 days.

KINGSTON & ST. ANDREW

There is also cause for concern in some communities within Kingston & St. Andrew. The MOHW has reported that the following communities have seen increased numbers of COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks and are at high risk of transmission.

The communities are:

• Duhaney Park
• Patrick Gardens
• Pembroke Hall
• Cooreville
• New Haven
• Half-way Tree
• Hughenden
• Arlene Gardens
• Molynes Gardens
• State Gardens
• Zaidie Gardens
• Constant Spring
• Barbican
• Meadowbrook

• Havendale
• Delacree Part
• Olympic Gardens
• Waltham Gardens

These communities, over the past 14 days, have seen cases that have no epidemiological link, that is, they cannot be traced to either a confirmed local or imported case.

This fact indicates the possibility of spread in the communities and therefore requires that higher levels of surveillance will have to be conducted.

Over the next weeks, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will therefore be deploying more health officers to visit these communities to conduct community surveillance, community sensitisation sessions and health promotion activities.

We encourage all members of these communities to facilitate and cooperate with the health teams, as they visit your homes, places of work and other institutions to conduct these necessary actions to reduce the spread of the disease.