JAMAICA: Don’t Throw Away Your Masks

#MontegoBay, May 15, 2023 – Jamaicans are being urged to maintain precautions against COVID-19.

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, said that while the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the pandemic over on May 5, the virus is still an issue on the island and persons should continue to protect themselves.

“COVID is still here. Please do not throw away your masks, please do not forget proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette and physical distancing where it is appropriate when you are around persons who are ill,” she cautioned.

“It (COVID-19) is now considered endemic, meaning we have to live with it, and so we still have to practise the prevention measures [which] will help us with other respiratory illnesses,” Dr. Graham pointed out, noting that these include influenza and the adenovirus.

She was addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation held in Savanna-la-Mar in the parish on Thursday (May 11).

Citing statistics, Dr. Graham informed that the average weekly COVID-19 positivity rate was 9.1 per cent from May 2 to 8.

She noted that Westmoreland was leading in the positivity rate for that week with some 19 new cases of the virus and in second place was St. Ann with 11 new cases.

“COVID-19 is still with us; we need to remain alert. We also have persons in hospital with COVID-19, and over the past week we have had persons who tested positive for COVID-19 who have died,” noting that these were persons with comorbidities.

Dr. Graham is urging citizens to get the COVID-19 vaccine, noting that most of the patients in hospital are unvaccinated older persons with comorbidities.

“We have the Johnson and Johnson [COVID-19 vaccine]. One dose will give you good protection. It is available to you, and so we ask that you maintain your vigilance,” she said.

Contact: Serena Grant

Release: JIS