Jamaica Sees 62.55% Increase in Omicron Cases in One Week (Wednesday, April 20, 2022)

The Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of the Covid-19 virus continues to spread globally, reaching 2.49 million cases by Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Jamaica ranks first, with a weekly increase in Omicron cases growing by 62.55 percent. GISAID recorded 447 new Omicron cases in the country. Daily cases in this region increased by 24.17 percent compared to the previous day.

Following Jamaica is Malaysia, with a weekly growth in Omicron cases reaching 36.96 percent. Daily data shows a 2.56 percent increase in Omicron cases compared to the previous day, totaling 4,484 cases.

Furthermore, Omicron cases in Israel increased by 30.92 percent to 35,534 compared to the previous week; in Vietnam, they increased by 18.78 percent to 1,436 cases; and in Italy, they increased by 17.13 percent to 24,225 cases compared to the previous week.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the number of Omicron cases reached 10,342, a 1.21 percent increase compared to the previous day. Since its initial detection, Omicron cases in Indonesia have continued to rise.

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) urges everyone to remain vigilant in the face of the global surge in Omicron cases. The public is urged to consistently adhere to the 3M health protocols: wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands.