The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in Jamaica on 10 March 2020. This was during the 2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic that affected Latin America and the Caribbean.
On 11 January 2022, Jamaica overtook China in terms of the number of confirmed cases.
Background The COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica is part of the COVID-19 pandemic of COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who had initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019. Unlike SARS outbreak of 2003, the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.
Timeline
January and February 2020 The government announced a travel ban between China and Jamaica, with all people entering Jamaica from China subject to immediate quarantine for at least 14 days, and anyone who was allowed to land and shows symptoms of the virus put in immediate isolation. In keeping with the new policy, 19 Chinese nationals who arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on the evening of 31 January were denied entry, quarantined, and put on a flight back to China on 1 February.
March 2020 On 10 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed the first case in Jamaica, a female patient who arrived from the United Kingdom on 4 March. The health minister reported that the patient has been in isolation since 9 March after showing respiratory symptoms. Following the update, the travel ban imposed was expanded to include France, Germany, and Spain. On 11 March, the country's health minister Christopher Tufton confirmed the second "imported" case of COVID-19. On 13 March, the country announced six additional cases – including the father and another female patient of the first patient. Later that day, the government announced that the community of Bull Bay — where the funeral attended by the first patient took place — was placed under quarantine for 14 days. With four of the cases involving patients travelling through or from the United Kingdom, the country's foreign minister Kamina Johnson-Smith announced that the travel ban would be expanded to include the United Kingdom. On 15 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed that 19 suspected cases were reported and the patients tested. Of the 19 suspected cases, only two patients were confirmed as having the virus - one coming from Trinidad and Tobago and the other who had "contact tracing from the index case". In the same update, the Ministry confirmed that there were twenty-seven patients in isolation facilities and that Patients 1 and 2 no longer exhibit any symptoms. On 16 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) reported that there were five preliminary confirmed cases. Later that day, the government confirmed that only two of the five reported cases tested positive for COVID-19. In response to the increase in cases, the government announced further social distancing measures such as imposed remote work directives, the banning of all mass gatherings of more than 20 people, and the shuttering of bars, restaurants, sporting events, et cetera. On 17 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) confirmed another case - someone who attended the same funeral as Patient 1. On 18 March, the Chief Medical Officer of Jamaica confirmed the first COVID-19 death in the country. At the same press conference, the health ministry confirmed two additional cases. Between 19 and 31 March, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed an additional 22 cases bringing the total to 38 - including the first patient under the age of 18 years - with three having travel history in United States. Additionally, the health ministry announced the second coronavirus related death, a previously recovering patient who was determined to have died from cardiac arrest; and, the second recovered patient who has since been released from hospital. Of the two new cases, one was identified through contact tracing and was found to have been near two patients. The government also reported the recovery of the first patient in Jamaica.
Government response In light of these and other developments, the government announced the following measures: On 12 March: the closing of all primary and secondary schools for fourteen days. On 13 March: the invocation of the special powers under the Disaster Risk Management Act, the Emergency Powers Act and the Public Health Act to combat further spread of COVID-19. The Prime Minister also announced that the country would be seeking 100 Cuban nurses and recruiting retired medical professionals to help with the pandemic response. On 17 March: the imposition of remote work directives to non-essential workers. On 20 March: the closure of all ports of entry to incoming traffic for a period of 14 days, effective 21 March; and, the recruitment of final year medical students and retired medical practitioners to "support clinical and surveillance activities". On 23 March: the imposition of a stay-at-home order for all Jamaican citizens and residents 75 years and older for a period of 14 days, effective 25 March; the imposition of mandatory work-from-home orders for all public sector workers 65-years and older; the imposition of a mandatory 14-days quarantine order for all persons who entered the country on 18 March onwards.; and, the continued closure of schools closures until the end of the Easter term (8 April); On 25 March: the institution of the multi-billion dollar COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme which aims to provided financial assistance to workers and business affected by the pandemic. The programme became operational on 9 April. On 30 March: the imposition of an island-wide curfew, from 1 April to 8 April.
April 2020 Between 1 and 4 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 17 additional cases bringing the total to 55. Six of the cases were from the Corn Piece community in Clarendon and three had a history travel from New York. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 06 patients bringing the total to 08; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 03.
On 5 April, the Queen of Jamaica addressed the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast, in which she asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return". She added, "we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again".
Between 5 and 11 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 14 additional cases - including three patients with travel histories from Brazil and New York. With this update, the number of COVID-19 infections stood at 69. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 05 patients bringing the total to 13; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 04.
Between 12 and 18 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 69 additional cases bringing the number of COVID-19 infections to 173. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 14 patients bringing the total to 27; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 05.The record lasted 12 days until it was superseded by 43 confirmed cases on 26 April. The majority of the cases are related to a call centre in Portmore, Saint Catherine. In response, the Government of Jamaica announced a week long lockdown for the parish of Saint Catherine. The health ministry announced that one of its staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus; and, that its head offices will be closed on 17 April for cleaning and that staff (including, Permanent Secretary Mr. Dunstan Bryan) ordered to home quarantine. This week also saw the largest increase in daily confirmed cases to date.
Between 19 and 25 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 132 additional cases bringing the number of COVID-19 infections to 305. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of 01 patient bringing the total to 28; and, the death of 02 patients bringing the death toll to 07. To date, 165 out of 305 cases are linked to the call centre workplace cluster.
Between 26 and 30 April, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) confirmed 117 additional cases bringing the number of COVID-19 infections to 422. Additionally, the ministry reported: the recovery of another patient bringing the total to 29; and, the death of another patient bringing the death toll to 08. The health ministry this week announced an investigation into the death of a young mother who died from complications from childbirth after being reportedly turned away from several public and private hospitals owing her showing symptoms of COVID-19. To date, 257 cases have been directly and indirectly linked to the call centre workplace cluster. This week also marked the largest increase in daily confirmed cases to date, overtaking the previous record of 32 new cases.
Government response In light of these and other developments, the government announced the following measures: On 3 April: the issuing of an order to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency to block 4500 individuals (who arrived between 18 and 24 March) from leaving the island, after said individuals failed to report to quarantine as required under the Disaster Risk Management Act.; the receipt of 25 additional ventilators by 1 May increasing the number of ventilators in the island to 105. The prime minister and the foreign minister both indicated that a number of the ventilators, N95 masks, other medical equipment and non-medical support are being obtained through donations from international partners - including the European Union, South Korea, the People's Republic of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency. On 5 April: the launching of a telethon, by the culture minister, aimed at raising US$10 million to fund the government's COVID-19 response. On 6 April: the issuing of guidelines on the usage of masks following similar announcements by the USCDC and the World Health Organization. On 8 April: the extension of the nightly curfew in place to 21 April; the extension of stay-at-home orders and remote work orders, until 21 April; and, the imposition of a masks-wearing mandate for some class of persons and strongly advised for other Jamaicans. Additionally, Prime Minister Holness announced that schools in Jamaica will remain closed until 22 April; and, that the government is considering controlled re-entry of Jamaican expatriates. On 9 April: the launching of COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme. On 13 April: the consideration of new protocols to facilitate the controlled re-entry of Jamaicans when possible, contingent on quarantine and isolation capacity, among other variables, pending the full re-opening of our borders to passenger traffic. The joint statement by the foreign and national security ministries followed reports of Jamaicans workers on the Marella Discovery 2 cruise ship being denied entry into the country when the ship was in the country's territorial waters.; and, the launching and deployment of mobile testing units. On 14 April: the imposition of a complete lockdown for the parish of Saint Catherine for seven days in light of the outbreak at the Alorica call centre in Portmore, Saint Catherine. Included in this parish-wide lockdown are all employees in the business process outsourcing sector (classified as essential workers in previous orders from the Government) who live and/or work at call centres in the parish. On 16 April: