Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, says that while the coronavirus numbers and positivity rate are trending downwards, Jamaicans should continue adhering to the infection prevention and control measures in order to avoid a third wave of the virus.
He said Jamaica has, so far, experienced two surges of COVID-19, noting that “the consequences of the surge we are currently going through have been far more severe than the first one we went through last year”.
He was addressing the Ministry’s COVID Conversations virtual press conference yesterday (Thurs).
Providing statistics, Dr. Tufton said that in the peak week of the first surge, the country saw 1,154 cases compared to 4,082 in the peak week of the second surge.
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, said that as many as 10,700 cases could be recorded in the peak week of a possible third wave.
She noted that as COVID-19 cases rise, the number of deaths could increase to as many as 180 in a peak week.
Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie is imploring Jamaicans not to become complacent.
