Tufton Tours St. Joseph’s

The Minister of Health says quarantine facilities are fully equipped with necessary amenities and medical teams to handle suspected cases of coronavirus in the country.

On Tuesday the Minister toured one of the quarantine facilities as the government takes precautionary measures against the deadly coronavirus.

The St. Joseph’s hospital in Kingston is being used as a quarantine facility to help the government detect and contain any cases of coronavirus.

The Minister describes the facility as fitting, with fourteen self contain rooms that he says will adequately serve those placed in quarantined.

Acknowledging the concerns of residents in the surrounding communities, Dr Tufton says there is a noted difference between isolation and quarantine facilities.

He explains that quarantined facilities will be used to monitor persons who have traveled to China recently to see if they display any signs of the new coronavirus.

In situations where an individual’s condition deteriorates the patient will be removed from the facility and placed in isolation at either the National Chest Hospital or the University Hospital.

Tufton notes that so far no one has been placed at the facility, but its a part of the effort to be proactive as the threat of the coronavirus increases.

He says he is confident that the ability of the St Joseph’s hospital to assist in the efforts to safeguard the population.

Dr. Tufton points out that seven persons are currently being quarantined at the Shortwood facility.