Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols Essential – Dr. Tufton

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says that compliance with the provisions under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) is “absolutely essential” in reducing the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19)

These include physical distancing, staying at home, avoiding crowded situations, frequently washing and sanitising hands and surfaces, wearing masks, obeying the quarantine rules, among other measures.

“Our assessments are showing a positive relationship between the implementation of our DRMA regulations and lower rates of COVID cases.

“Citizens must play their part. We have to take a whole-of-society approach, and the truth is, without compliance with the DRMA regulations we risk undermining the efforts of the Government and, indeed, the efforts of the people who comply, because one action affects all of us,” Dr. Tufton said.

The Minister was speaking at the virtual COVID Conversations press briefing on February 23, where he again appealed for Jamaicans to adhere to the infection prevention and control measures.

This is in light of the country’s increasing positivity rate, which refers to the percentage of all COVID-19 tests that have come back positive.

“To have a positivity rate of over 20 per cent is very alarming and does say to us that the virus is spread out in most communities and it will have an impact on hospitalisations and the need for further expansion of our services to deal with the surge that is taking place,” Dr. Tufton pointed out.

He said the country remains in the community transmission phase of the virus and encouraged persons to take personal responsibility to protect themselves, their loved ones, community and the country by observing all the critical protocols.