St. Catherine Health Dept. Active With Contact Tracing

The St. Catherine Health Department is actively involved in contact tracing, following the situation that occurred at the call centre – Alorica in Portmore, St. Catherine – identified as the source of 52 coronavirus (COVID-19) cases that have been confirmed.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, gave an update during a virtual press conference at the Ministry of Health and Wellness in New Kingston, on Thursday (April 16).

He said the St. Catherine Health Department is being provided with “additional support personnel to expedite their contact tracing efforts”.

“In addition to the St. Catherine Health Department, the Kingston and St. Andrew [Municipal] Corporation (KSAMC) and the Clarendon Health Department are also working to (ensure) that persons who work at Alorica are located in those parishes,” Dr. Tufton said.

He noted that of the total number of staff on record at Alorica in Portmore, which is 787 persons, some 559 persons are from the parish of St. Catherine, of which contact has been made with 447.

“There are some challenges as it relates to 112 of those names because of addresses not being correct. We are, however, continuing the efforts to locate those individuals,” he said.

One hundred and seventy nine persons who are contacts of Alorica staff members, have been contacted as well in the parish of St. Catherine.

On Tuesday (April 14), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced that with the surge in cases in St. Catherine based on the link to Alorica, there will be a total lockdown of the parish for seven days between April 15 and April 22.