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The island has experienced two waves in community transmission over the last year. There were almost four times as many cases in the peak week of the second wave as there were in the first wave.
The reason is that our numbers didn’t go down far enough and so we were starting at a higher point with respect of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases prior to how we did in the first wave.
This has meant that we also saw a greater number of deaths, twice as many, in fact; and more than twice as many admissions to hospitals.
In the first wave, we saw in the peak week, 1,154 cases compared to 4,082 in the peak week of the second wave.
This translated to the death of some 31 persons in the peak week of the first wave and to 59 in the peak week of the second wave.
This translated to the death of some 31 persons in the peak week of the first wave and to 59 in the peak week of the second wave.
In the peak week of the first wave, bed occupancy for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases went up to 309 and in the peak week of the second wave, to 716.
The other thing to highlight is the presence of variants of concern in the population.
When last we provided results through this forum, we had indicated that we had the presence of the UK variant in the country and that there were several parishes with positive cases.
When last we provided results through this forum, we had indicated that we had the presence of the UK variant in the country and that there were several parishes with positive cases.
We have now received results from the third batch of samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency - CARPHA.
50 samples were sent.
10 were found to be suitable for sequencing, which means that they had enough genetic material for the test to be done.
50 samples were sent.
10 were found to be suitable for sequencing, which means that they had enough genetic material for the test to be done.
7 of the 10 were found to have the UK variant while the 3 others had
mutations that are being investigated in the US and the UK, but which
have not been designated to be variants of concern. There were no South African variants and no Brazilian variants present.
mutations that are being investigated in the US and the UK, but which
have not been designated to be variants of concern. There were no South African variants and no Brazilian variants present.
While our numbers are trending down, the fact is that we are not at a level where we can be comfortable and the presence of a highly transmissible strain in the population puts us at further risk.
We have to continue to decrease our cases because should we experience a third wave, based on where we were at the end of last week, we could see as many as 10,700 cases, 180 deaths and hospitalisations for confirmed and suspected cases up to 1,900 – all in a single week.
This is a break down of COVID-19 case per parish. Kingston & St. Andrew has the most cases with 12,957 cases to date.
Here is a further breakdown and classification of the cases in each parish.
This is the age distribution.
This is the age distribution of COVID-19 deaths in Jamaica as at April 28, 2021
Up to April 28, some 139,993 persons had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 57% of them females and 43% males.
The majority of those persons (22%) are from the 60-69 years age group, followed by 18% from the 70-79 years age group and 17% from the 50-59 years age group. The others are 49 years and younger.
The majority of the persons who have received the first dose (33%) are from the KSA followed by St. Catherine (14%) and St. James (8%).
They are followed by Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and St. Ann – each with 7% of persons who have so far received their first dose. The remaining parishes account for between 0.5% and 4% of those vaccinated.
Taken by health region, the majority of the vaccinations have taken place within the South East Regional Health Authority (65,666 or 47%),
Followed by the Southern Regional Health Authority (28,604 or 20%); the Western Regional Health Authority (27,789 or 20%); and the North East Regional Health Authority (17,934 or 13%).
Next week, we will begin to administer the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for persons who have already received the first dose.
Some 39,000 persons will become eligible for the second dose of the vaccine during the month of May.
Some 39,000 persons will become eligible for the second dose of the vaccine during the month of May.
Forty thousand (40,000) doses of the 55,200 doses that arrived in the island earlier this week are reserved for these persons.
The remaining 15,200 doses will be pooled with the doses (11,800) we previously had in stock and offered to the current priority groups.
Getting the second dose, ladies and gentlemen, is critical as we seek to get the maximum protection afforded by the vaccine.
Getting the second dose, ladies and gentlemen, is critical as we seek to get the maximum protection afforded by the vaccine.
As a Ministry of Health & Wellness, we are taking the necessary actions to create the enabling environment for persons to get their second dose, even as we continue to vaccinate other members of the population.
The last year has not been without its challenges. We have seen, for example, two significant waves in community transmission – as explained by the CMO.
We want to avoid a return to either of those scenarios and vaccination is essential to that effort. Now is not the time to be complacent or otherwise satisfied with having had only a single dose of the vaccine.
The second dose of the vaccine is vital to achieving increased protection.
