‘Stronger measures coming’ - Holness says current COVID-19 wave more dangerous

March 19, 2021
Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Patients on chairs at Cornwall Regional Hospital because of lack of beds.
Patients on chairs at Cornwall Regional Hospital because of lack of beds.
Nurses marching in Mandeville, Manchester, as part of the COVID-19 ‘Mask Up Before You Talk Up’ campaign.
Nurses marching in Mandeville, Manchester, as part of the COVID-19 ‘Mask Up Before You Talk Up’ campaign.
Police patrol West Parade last April looking out for curfew breakers.
Police patrol West Parade last April looking out for curfew breakers.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he would be announcing tighter COVID-19 measures which he said are "designed to protect our healthcare system and save lives".

The prime minister, speaking during the Budget Debate in Parliament, said Jamaica is now experiencing a third wave of the virus, which is much larger than before and more dangerous in terms of the threat to life because of the associated hospitalisation numbers.

"Hospitalisation now exceeds the beds available by as much as 15 per cent in some instances. This means that someone who needs to be taken in on a ward may not have a bed readily available and may have to wait. This places great stress on our already overburdened doctors and nurses. It potentially could impact on the mortality rate. More persons could die," Holness said.

The Government has been implementing tighter COVID-19 control measures amid the surge in cases. Places of worship, including churches, are only allowed to engage in online services. Public beaches and rivers have been closed; only students sitting exit exams (PEP, CSEC/CAPE) are permitted to have face-to-face classes; there has been a strict work-from-home arrangement for the public sector; and funerals and most burials are prohibited.

30 per cent range

"The current set of measures expire on the 22nd of this month. With hospitalisation numbers continuing to exceed capacity, daily positivity rate in the 30 per cent range, and our estimated infection reproductive rate continuing above one, I will be announcing a new set of stronger measures designed to protect our healthcare system and save lives in the short term, which eventually protects and preserves our economy and livelihoods in the long term," Holness said.

Jamaica on Wednesday recorded 638 new cases of the COVID-19 virus as nearly four in every 10 persons who were tested were found to have the disease. The country now has 33,366 confirmed cases of the virus which has claimed the lives of 511 persons on the island. There were 398 persons in hospital as of Wednesday, 34 of whom are listed in critical condition.

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