More than 500 Jamaicans have died due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and more alarmingly, the island recorded its highest-ever daily rate of deaths, as the pandemic continues to slam the local population.

Our Today analysis of data provided by the Ministry of Health and Wellness noted that 13 people died in the last 24 hours, leaving the death toll at 507.

It is the largest one-day death rate ever listed in Jamaica, after the 12 designated COVID-related fatalities last Wednesday, March 10.

Jamaica also holds the highest death toll, by more than 100, within CARICOM—ahead of Belize (316), Guyana (207) and The Bahamas (185).

At the same time, 821 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed by the ministry, bringing the island’s cumulative total to 32,728.

Maintaining its resurgence, cases were confirmed in all 14 parishes, with Kingston and St Andrew (226), St Catherine (195), St Thomas (92), Manchester (48) and Clarendon (41) ranking as the worst-affected.

Of the recently deceased, who ranged in ages 26 years to 86 years, seven were residents of Kingston and St Andrew, another two were from St Elizabeth, three recorded from St Thomas, as well as a single St Catherine death.

The testing positivity rate, taken from 2,014 public samples, has risen to 38.3 per cent, up from 31.6 per cent recorded yesterday.

The country is currently managing 16,513 active cases while 15,473 persons have made a full recovery from the infectious disease.

A total of 371 Jamaicans are being treated at hospital for the coronavirus. Of that total, 29 patients have been categorised as ‘critically ill’, while another 24 are listed as ‘moderately ill’.