Jamaicans Warned That COVID-19 Cases Could Rise Much Higher In Coming Days

The Government is cautioning that there could be a doubling of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the island in upcoming days.

In light of this, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, emphasised the need for persons to limit commute and stay at home, during a press conference at Jamaica House, on Monday (March 30).

“The Ministry of Health [and Wellness] has done some projections looking at whether or not our numbers will double in the next 10 days, eight days, five days, three days and the next two days, and what that could look like,” Mr. Holness said, before Dr. Bisasor McKenzie explained the projection and cited the possibilities.

“Right now, we are seeing, following a trajectory… a doubling of the number of [COVID-19] cases in approximately every eight days,” Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said.

“If we continue along this trajectory, then we will keep our cases reasonably down. We will continue to keep the curve flat, meaning below what it is that our health system is able to manage,” she added.

Dr. Bisasor McKenzie stressed that while it may appear that things may be looking good, if action by citizens is not taken now, the number of cases can increase.

“If it is that persons do not stay at home, [especially] persons who have travelled to countries where they may have been exposed, then they have the potential to infect other persons and our numbers are going to go up,” she said.

She argued that persons who have had contact with the current 36 confirmed COVID-19 cases, if they are infected and they do not stay at home, then the number of persons infected could rise and Jamaica will move from a potential doubling every eight days to possibly a doubling every five days, or worse, there could be a doubling every two days.

“I want to really caution the population that this is the time when we have to be extra vigilant. We have been doing pretty well, so far, but I want the population to realise that we now have 36 confirmed cases of COVID-19. That means that at this time, we have the potential to have more cases,” Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said.