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Jamaica Reports 27 New Cases Of COVID-19; Raising Total To 223

Jamaica's Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, speaks at a virtual press conference at Jamaica House, recently. Photo credit: Michael Sloley/JIS.

Jamaica Reports 27 New Cases Of COVID-19; Raising Total To 223

KINGSTON, Jamaica April 21, 2020 — Jamaica has recorded 27 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number to 223.

This update was given by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, yesterday, during a virtual press conference at Jamaica House.

“Of those 27 new cases, 19 are females [and] eight are males, and 26 of them are linked to the [Alorica] Portmore workplace cluster. There are now 34 imported cases; six are local transmission, with no epidemiological link; 47 are contacts of confirmed cases; and 136 are under investigation,” the Minister disclosed.

“Of that 136 persons, 120 have been identified, within that workplace cluster in Portmore, in addition to 16 other cases,” he elaborated.

So far, 1,889 samples have been tested, with 223 positive and 1,655 negative, and 11 are pending. In terms of isolation and recovery, there are 128 persons in isolation and 24 in quarantine in a government-operated facility.

The government has reiterated that masks must be worn to prevent contracting the virus, and spreading it.

With this increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Jamaica could be on the brink of experiencing a community spread.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, said with Jamaica expecting community spread, new curfew Orders will be put in place.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, addresses a virtual press conference at Jamaica House, yesterday. Photo credit: Michael Sloley/JIS.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, addresses a virtual press conference at Jamaica House, yesterday. Photo credit: Michael Sloley/JIS.

“We have examined the curfews, and as I’ve said, they have worked, very well, [in the past], but given the phase we’re in, the potential now of community spread, we believe that we had to tighten the curfews,” Holness reasoned.

“The Cabinet considered it carefully and, on the advice of the security forces and the health considerations from the Ministry of Health [and Wellness], we have some new curfew hours, island-wide,” he said.

For the next 14 days, beginning Wednesday, April 22, a new island-wide curfew will begin, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily.

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