Another record has been set for the number of new COVID 19 cases for a 24 hour period. The latest data from the Health Ministry show that 723 new cases were recorded on Saturday.

These consist of 409 females and 290 males with 24 cases under investigation. They range in age from 7 months old to 95 years old.

The parish break down shows Kingston and St Andrew with the highest number of cases 265, followed by st. Catherine with  141. Portland  58, St. James 54,  Trelawny 45,  Hanover  33, St. Ann  31 , St.  Mary   26,   Westmoreland    22,  St. Thomas    20, Manchester 18 Clarendon    6  and  St. Elizabeth   4

The case count for the country now stands at 26,026.

Meanwhile, 7 deaths were also recorded yesterday. Three of the deceased are from the Corporate Area: two women aged 73 and 85  and a man aged 73.

The other four are from St James: three women aged 55, 62 and 61  and a 78-year-old man.

Their deaths push the death toll to 453.  There was one coincidental death and three deaths are under investigation.

271 people are hospitalized with COVID  with 31 being critically ill and 31 being moderately ill

142 persons recovered leaving  11,039 active cases.  There have been 14,301 recoveries.