In Jamaica, pressure is now mounting on health care workers amid a huge surge in COVID-19 cases.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dunstan Bryan has confirmed that all major hospitals are at or significantly above capacity, with COVID-19 cases.

Bryan noted in a report that the situation is becoming untenable.

The Ministry is now recalling hospital staff who are on vacation.

Additionally, the health ministry said regional health authorities have been asked to revise their leave rosters to ensure adequate staff coverage for the anticipated further increase in hospitalizations.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Savanna-la-Mar, Mandeville, and Spanish Town hospitals are the worst affected hospitals.

Moreover, he noted that the current strain on hospitals is likely to adversely affect their ability to carry out elective or non-emergency procedures.

At the beginning of the week, the health ministry reported 379 new COVID-19 infections and a positivity rate of 37.8 percent.

Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

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