Kingston – Health officials on Wednesday confirmed that 20 passengers who arrived on a flight from the United Kingdom earlier this week, have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health said the passengers have been placed in state isolation and along with four of their close contacts, will be monitored until they are recovered.
Additionally, the 20 positive samples will be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for genetic assessment to determine if they are of the variant of COVID-19.
The results for two passengers are still pending while some 267 travellers (excluding the four close contacts), who have tested negative for COVID-19, were scheduled to be transferred from state to home quarantine.
The ministry said that these passengers, who will be fitted with armbands, will be closely monitored by the parish health team and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, as they complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine at home.
The ministry also reminded family members that they must strictly adhere to the infection prevention and control measures when picking up their relatives, as well as during the mandatory quarantine period, as these people may still develop symptoms in the next 14 days and transmit the virus to others.
The ministry said 301 passengers arrived on Monday. Of the 301 passengers, five were in transit and three were children under 12 years of age, who were not sampled. (CMC)
