Avellon Williams
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA– Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland parish, Dr. Marcia Graham, says there is a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections among children which has triggered an alarm with local health officials.
“We have 652 active cases in the parish where the presence of the Delta variant was unanimously confirmed last month noting that some 95 of them are children under the age of 19 years, who are being infected by both family members and playmates within the community that has tested positive is cause for concern. “
Graham said greater adherence to the basic protocols is needed, revealing that more than 90 per cent of the patients hospitalized within recent times were unvaccinated.
In July of this year, Graham had already raised concerns when 10 children had contracted the COVID-19 virus, now the numbers are more than nine times as high.
She urged parents to have their children, aged 12 and over-vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, and appeal to residents to follow the protocols and interact with everyone they encounter as if they have the disease.
“Over 60 persons died in August; wake up and take responsibility,” she urged. “Our hospital occupancy at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital is at 264 per cent. COVID-19 has caused a significant impact on the health system and in the lives of everyone in Westmoreland,” she added.
From January 3, 2020 to September 13, 2021, there have been 75,857 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 1,731 deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of September 10, 2021, a total of 606,286 vaccine doses had been administered.
Westmoreland had 4,518, with 154 confirmed deaths.
