National Epidemiologist Dr. Karen Webster Kerr, addressing the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Matters, on Tuesday
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Dr. Karen Webster Kerr and Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton
The Ministry of Health says there has been a noticeable increase in the rate of COVID-19 infection over the last two weeks.
National Epidemiologist Dr. Karen Webster Kerr told the sitting of the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Matters that COVID-19 trends are heading in the wrong direction.
"There has been a noted increase in cases week on week. The number of deaths are also increasing, so this trend is not looking good at this time. When we look at the hospital admissions, this has in essence levelled off or plateaued... When we look at the pressure on the system, we are at medium level currently," she revealed.
Dr. Webster-Kerr is also concerned about the COVID-19 reproductive rate, noting that "the reproductive number for both confirmed and admission are at 1.1, which means that cases are increasing and the admissions are increasing."
Last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness reported a slight uptick in positivity rates and hospitalisations since COVID-19 prevention measures were relaxed.
The Prime Minister warned party-goers flouting COVID-19 rules that tighter containment measures could be reimposed.
On June 24 and July 1, measures were eased to allow for more movement and gathering in public spaces.
Delta variant
Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told Tuesday's sitting of the committee that it is inevitable the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 will reach Jamaica.
Dr. Tufton said the risk is high as the country's borders remain open.
"With other geographic spaces that have the Delta variant as a dominant feature of those populations, I certainly believe that it is just a matter of time before we detect that variant is here," he warned.
He disclosed that another batch of samples will be sent for testing for the Delta variant.
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