SOME 70 samples were collected and sent to the National Public Health Laboratory for testing, as part of COVID-19 surveillance activities conducted in West Kingston today.
The surveillance activities began on Wednesday, following the recent confirmation of five COVID-19 cases in the community. More than 100 team members, including medical doctors, public health inspectors and public health nurses, have been involved.
Surveillance, including not only sampling but also public education, will continue tomorrow, as the health authorities move to safeguard the health and well-being of the local community and the larger Jamaican population.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging the residents of West Kingston to continue to cooperate with the health team on the ground.
“The cooperation and participation of our people is essential if we are to continue to make progress in the national COVID-19 response efforts,” noted Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie.
“In order to quickly and effectively complete the surveillance activities in West Kingston, we rely on residents to truthfully answer queries from the health team and to agree to the sampling that is to be done,” she added.
“We are, of course, available to answer any queries that residents may have and will work to get those persons who are sampled their test results in the shortest possible time,” the CMO said further.