Outbreak of COVID-19 Found in Jamaican Corporate Area Prison

Jamaica's Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is reporting that 14 persons at the Tower Street Adult Correction Centre have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 24 hours.

Of that number, the Department said two are staff members and 12 are inmates.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department said all COVID-19 infected persons have been placed in isolation and contact tracing activities are conducted to curtail the spread in the institution.

According to the Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security Matthew Samuda, the DCS will be revisiting its tracking measures given the situation and release results of the COVID-19 tests immediately rather than twice weekly on its website.

Meanwhile, Director of Medical Services in the Department Dr. Donna-Michelle Royer-Powe said almost 300 persons including staff and inmates were tested at correctional facilities.

She says the cases recorded in the Correctional facilities have been largely asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the island recorded another three COVID-19 related deaths, pushing the death toll from the virus to 119.

In addition, Jamaica 91 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of new cases to 6,795. There are currently 4,239 active cases islandwide.

CMC