Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says the government has allocated approximately $2 billion to bolster the response of the public health system, to combat the local spread of the new corona virus COVID-19.
Dr. Tufton who confirmed the country’s first imported case of the virus during a press conference yesterday, noted that the $2 billion is apart of Jamaica’s national response.
He added that the allocation will support the possibility of containment, case management and to strengthen the border control measures that are currently in place.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister is encouraging Jamaicans not to be afraid of using the health services at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
This as the patient with the country’s first imported case of COVID-19, is being held in isolation at that facility.
Dr. Tufton who was speaking during an emergency press conference yesterday, said the health staff and the facility are equipped to effectively prevent local spread of the virus.
