Latest ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É
Coronavirus recovery rate could increase - But deaths reach 40, positive cases reach 3,511
September 11, 2020
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has decided that persons who contract COVID-19 would be deemed recovered after two weeks without retesting, if they display no symptoms.
Previously, a person who had tested positive required two consecutive negative tests to be considered recovered.
"Once they have done the two weeks in isolation, an assessment is done at the hospital or at home and if everything is okay, then they are discharged from isolation, not requiring any test. The science is showing that a lot of these cases, after 10, 14 days, are really dead particles. We were testing persons and persons were out of work because they were returning a positive test," Dr Karen Webster Kerr, acting chief medical officer (CMO), said yesterday during a media briefing.
No symptoms
COVID recoveries have increased by 32, bringing the total to 1,051. Kerr says the recovery rate would continue to increase.
"Once the person has done 14 days, and for at least three of those days they have no symptoms, they are discharged. So, over the next few days, you may see an increase in the number of recoveries," she said. Yesterday, Jamaica's COVID-related death toll rose to 40, the two latest fatalities being a 90-year-old male from Kingston and St Andrew, and a 34-year-old woman whose death was previously under investigation. Both had comorbidities.
There are now 3,511 confirmed cases, as an additional 74 cases were also announced by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton yesterday.
As a result of the increase, Tufton says the likelihood of vulnerable persons and those with comorbidities contracting the virus increases. He also said the community spread poses a higher risk factor to asthmatics. To assist in controlling the spread of the virus, community health aides have been recruited and have been trained in phases.
"We have actually engaged a number of them who are deployed. I think about 700 on the last count. We have to complete the process and it will be completed ... they are a very important part in the response," Tufton told THE WEEKEND STAR.
