Community Health Aides and Public Health Inspectors handed out flyers to residents of various communities in Manchioneal, Portland on Friday, December 18.

This is a part of the Portland Health Department’s ‘Christmas Community Blitz and Rollout’. A move expected to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the parish. 

While not unique to Portland, the issue of persons flouting the rules, was highlighted. 

Health Education and Health Promotion Officer at the Portland Health Department, Dahlia Gayle-Reid says some persons are not wearing their masks, neither are they practicing physical distancing.

But COVID-19 is not the only concern. One Public Health Inspector, Khaylia Fisher says, some persons are not taking the dengue virus seriously. Therefore, more needs to be done to increase awareness.

HIV awareness was also raised in the communities.

CVM Live spoke with a number of persons, who welcomed the initiative. 

Meanwhile, the Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis says up to Friday, the parish had recorded  351 cases of the virus. Of that number, ten were active. 

 In an effort to keep the number of cases relatively low, she is urging residents to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols. 

CVM Live‘s Aladden Love reports: