Jamaica announces coronavirus blockade with health system on edge

KINGSTON, Aug. 20 (Reuters) – Jamaica will ban residents from leaving home for seven days for three weekends to contain an increase in coronavirus infections and protect its health care system, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said.

The Caribbean nation has been battling a third wave of infections, with the presence of the highly contagious delta variant confirmed on the island.

“Our case numbers are unacceptably high and rising, and the hospitalization rate is higher – and I want to emphasize that – beyond the ability of our health care system to cope,” Holness said at a news conference. virtual Thursday afternoon.

More than 550 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the island nation of nearly three million people. To date, about 60,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 1,300 people have died.

Officials are concerned that the coronavirus is widespread, with an average seven-day positivity rate of 39%. The rate rose after authorities eased containment measures last month.

“It’s not going well right now, and we really need to take some serious steps to quickly reduce the numbers,” said Jamaica’s medical director Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie, who also spoke at the press conference.

Jamaica will begin its movement restrictions on Sunday, with the first blockade lasting three days, Holness said. There will be an identical three-day movement ban the following weekend and a one-day closure on Sunday 5 September.

Jamaicans will have to stay home unless they are essential workers, although there will be some flexibility for citizens who have international travel plans or vaccination appointments.

Vaccination efforts in the country have been weak, with only 5% of the population fully vaccinated.

Reports by Kate Chappell; Written by Drazen Jorgic; edited by Barbara Lewis

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