Health Ministry PS in quarantine as COVID response worker tests positive

The Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry Dunstan Bryan is now in quarantine after a COVID response worker today tested positive for the coronavirus.

The worker is in hospital.

Further information on the worker was not immediately released.

However, the Health Ministry said the employee is assigned to its head office and would have been in contact with the permanent secretary.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the ministry said, in keeping with its protocol for infection prevention and control, it will suspend operations at the head office buildings in Kingston on Friday, April 17.

"This suspension of operation will allow for a sanitisation exercise in all the buildings," said a ministry spokesperson in a release.

The ministry also said counselling for staff members has started and will continue as necessary.

"Contact tracing at the head office has commenced as the health department seeks to interview, sample and test staff members, who would have had close contact with the employee in the last 14 days,” the spokesperson also said.

The ministry says its National Health Emergency Operation Centre, which has been managing the national response to COVID-19 will continue to operate and functionaries will work remotely or work from the centre.

The head offices are scheduled to re-open for normal operation on Monday, April 20.

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