JAMAICA: Monkeypox and Covid-19 Infection Levels Remain Low

#Kingston, December 20, 2022 – Jamaica’s monkeypox and COVID-19 infection levels remain low as the Ministry of Health and Wellness continues efforts to curtail the viruses’ spread across the island.

Portfolio Minister, Dr the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said that as of December 15, there were 18 confirmed cases of Monkeypox with only one being active.

“Sixteen of the 18 were locally transmitted, which means we have to do contact tracing in the wider population, at least where those persons were in contact with the other persons. But the fact that we have had significant recovery, is an indication that the Ministry and the team would have done what needed to be done to address and to control that issue,” he stated.

Dr Tufton provided the details during a recent end-of-year press conference at the Ministry in New Kingston.  He further indicated that the Ministry continues to capture and monitor COVID-19 infections through its National Surveillance Unit.

With the positivity rate at 2.8 per cent, Dr. Tufton said the total COVID-19 death count stands at 3,452, with 349 still under investigation and another 295 deemed coincidental.

“[From] December 6 to 12, we confirmed 42 new cases, bringing our total case count to 152,711,” he disclosed.

Data indicate that approximately 96 per cent of deaths confirmed since the vaccination programme began are persons who were unvaccinated.

Against this backdrop, Dr. Tufton urged the public to make use of the available COVID-19 vaccines, noting that the national coverage now stands at 27.2 per cent.

Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry, Dr. Melody Ennis, disclosed that more than 400,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines are in stock.

“Just under 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm and approximately 70,000 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccines [are also available],” she said.

Persons are encouraged to visit health centres listed on the Ministry’s website to receive their vaccine.

Contact: Chanel Spence

Release: JIS