COVID-19 surge anticipated: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton met with the Mayor of Montego Bay and members of the St. James Municipal Cooperation earlier yesterday (December, 16), to discuss the level of COVID-19 transmission in the parish.
In recent weeks, the parishes of St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover have seen an increase in positive cases.
Dr. Tufton says this is cause for much concern, as the spike in the western end of the island contributes to the rise in the national positivity rate.
Additionally, the Health Department in St. James conducted random testing in Sam Sharpe Square last week, 100 persons were tested.
Of the 28 beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in the parish, 21 are now in use.
The 36-40 bed field hospital in Falmouth, Trelawny is still under construction and is expected to be complete by mid-January.
Despite island-wide public education campaigns, the non-compliance level is seemingly high.
Dr. Tufton says a surge in positive cases is anticipated come January.
