COVID-19 Bed Occupancy Nearing Capacity

A surge in COVID-19 cases has seen an increase in hospital admissions and the country’s bed occupancy nearing capacity.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor- Mckenzie says there is a very high level of transmission across the country, with 50 to 75% of communities being affected with newly confirmed cases.

On the status of hospitals, facilities across the western, southern, and northeast health regions have exceeded their COVID-19 capacity. Meanwhile, hospitals in the South East Health Region, are inching closer to full capacity at 85%. As at August 11 over 600 beds have been occupied with both confirmed cases and suspected cases of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is to roll out its community-based vaccination drives island-wide in the coming week to facilitate the inoculation of eligible Jamaicans with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Fixed vaccination sites will also be opened.

Additionally, there is an island-wide vaccination blitz this weekend with some 23 sites across 11 parishes. Two mobile sites are being put in place to visit workplaces. Private doctors will be operating at selected sites in Kingston in the coming week, with a target of vaccinating some 6000 people per week.

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