National Epidemiologist Dr Karen Webster Kerr says Jamaican women are more disproportionately infected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but men are more likely to die from the disease.

Dr Webster Kerr, speaking during Thursday’s (February 18) COVID-19 press briefing, broke down the statistical impact of the pandemic in Jamaica.

According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, of the island’s 20,310 confirmed cases, 11,285 (or 55.6 per cent) were women, while 9,022 or 44.3 per cent were males. Another three or 0.1 per cent were classified as ‘unknown gender’.

But, when compared to the fatality rate, 214 men (or 55.7 per cent of all known deaths) died from coronavirus-related complications—meaning males were 2.4 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than women.

Of the 384 deaths recorded, 170 or 44.3 per cent were women.

Young Jamaicans made up the bulk of those becoming infected, as some 8,391 confirmed cases or 41.4 per cent of the national caseload were between the ages of 20-29 (4,369 cases or 21.6 per cent) and 30-39 (4,022 cases or 19.8 per cent).

The elderly accounted for much of Jamaica’s COVID-related fatalities, however, as those between the ages of 80-89 and over-90-years were more likely to die from the infectious disease.

With a 25.2 per cent likelihood of death, the coronavirus has claimed 32 Jamaican lives over the age of 90, while 75 persons aged 80-89 were killed by coronavirus-related complications—a 14.7 per cent fatality rate.

Dr Webster Kerr further noted that among Jamaicans who died, 98 per cent of those infected had comorbidities; 72 per cent were over the age of 60; 56 per cent suffered from varying cardiovascular disease, mainly hypertension; 44 per cent had diabetes; and 14 per cent had chronic kidney disease.

As the triple-digit outbreak continues to ravage the island, the Ministry of Health and Wellness indicated that the current number of cases has exceeded the previous August-September 2020 peak.

Jamaica confirmed 271 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the island’s tallyto 20,558. Seven new deaths bring the country to 391, while 12,828 patients have made a full recovery.