Steps being taken to prevent spread of COVID-19 with first imported case in Jamaica

Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health of Jamaica, has announced that his government is taking a number of steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in that country. He made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday where it was announced that the first imported case of the virus has been confirmed in Jamaica.

The patient is a Jamaican female who had travelled from the United Kingdom, which has cases of COVID-19. She arrived in the island on 4 March, presented to the public health system on 9 March and has been in isolation since then.

Among the measures to help prevent the spread of the disease announced by the Health Minister was the dispatch of a health team to the home of the patient for assessment and initiation of public health measures. Identification and contact tracing for all possible exposed persons, a meeting of Ministry officials with members of staff at the hospital, and the necessary interventions will also be done.

In addition, Minister Tufton advised that three countries have been added to previously imposed travel restrictions, which he said would remain in place. Travel restrictions for Jamaica are now in place for China, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Spain, France and Germany.

The Minister encouraged persons to adhere to infection prevention and control measures including:

• Maintaining a distance of at least one metre from persons who are coughing or sneezing
•  Frequently performing hand hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using a hand sanitiser if hands are not visibly soiled.
• Covering mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discarding it.
• Resisting the urge to touch the face.

At the 8th Special Meeting of the CARICOM Heads, a regional protocol establishing minimum standards for dealing with the COVID-19 virus was agreed to by CARICOM Heads of Government and Ministers of Health. The protocol is critical to avoid an outbreak of panic and fear in the Region. More information on how to protect yourself from the virus along with updated situation reports can be found on the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) website.

Source: CARICOM TODAY