MAJ Concerned About BA. 2 Variant amid Low Vax Rate

The Medical Association of Jamaica President, Dr. Brian James is again questioning the rationale behind the government’s decision to end the orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA), particularly the mask mandate. 

This, in light of the highly transmissible Omicron BA. 2 variant now in the country amid a low vaccination rate. The sub-variant also called ‘stealth omicron’ is the dominant variant globally. 

Dr. James is worried that the country’s public health system will not be able to handle another surge in infections. Jamaica’s public health system would experience a major setback should the omicron BA. 2 variant spur a fifth wave of Covid-19 infections.  That’s the concern of Medical Association of Jamaica President, Dr. Brian James who says several hospitals are behind in elective surgeries; inconveniencing roughly three thousand patients. 

The Chief Medical Officer has warned that the number of Covid-19 cases may increase, given the BA. 2 variant is highly transmissible. He says the removal of the mask mandate came as a surprise, since the government acknowledges that mask wearing is effective and still recommends it. Dr. James stresses that the country’s low vaccination rate coupled with the lifting of the measures under the DRMA puts Jamaica in a somewhat unique situation.