JAMAICA — The Jamaica Minsitry of Health on Friday morning confirmed 6 additional cases of the coronavirus, bringing the country's tally to 8 so far in the past week.
"Already we are tracing contacts and places to define the potential spread geographically and quantitatively and to implement quarantine measures as necessary," said Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness in a statement early Friday. "We are now in the phase where imported cases, and cases directly related to imported cases, are presenting themselves. At this stage we must do everything to contain the virus."
The prime minister said it is "absolutely important that everyone who has been identified as being in contact with persons confirmed with COVID19, cooperate with health officials, truthfully and completely answer questions, and faithfully observe the quarantine protocols. Let us work together to contain the spread."
Below, the confirmed cases:
- Two males, ages 63 and 67, who came into the island on March 7 from Trinidad, having traveled from Malaysia by way of Dubai and London. They were presented at a Jamaica hospital on March 11.
- One male, age 36, who traveled from Manchester, England. He was taken to a hospital from his hotel room via ambulance on March 11.
- One male, age 31, a Jamaican overseas ship worker who came in from the Canary Islands via Portugal and Miami. He arrived in Jamaica on February 25 and was presented at a hospital with symptoms on March 10.
- One male, age 58, who is the father of the first patient to be confirmed as having the disease in Jamaica. He was discovered ill at his home on March 11.
- And one female, age 34, who is a close contact also of the first patient who was confirmed with the coronavirus on the island.
Jamaica Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, will hold a press conference for the media today to provide further details on the ministry's efforts to track down those who the infected persons were in contact with, among other details. Dr. Tufton is said to be examining the ministry's level of preparedness for the coronavirus in western Jamaica.
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