The Health Ministry is reporting 17 more COVID-related deaths, pushing the death toll to 1,388.

The deceased include five from the corporate area between the ages of 61 and 83, a 75-year-old male and a 67 female from St. Elizabeth,  three females from Hanover between the ages of 41 and 92, Two males from St. James ages 68 and 72, three are from St. Ann between the ages of 73 and 88. A 59-year-old female from Clarendon completes the list of deceased.

Two more deaths are now under investigation.

Meantime, 551 COVID-19 cases were recorded yesterday, pushing the country’s case count to 61,833. Of the new cases, 337 are females and 214 are males. They range in age from 9 days to 101 years.

The positivity rate is 44.1%.

Kingston and St. Andrew recorded the highest number of cases with 115, followed by St. Catherine with 91. All parishes recorded new cases.

A total of 573 persons are hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those hospitalized, 144 are moderately ill, 82 are severely ill and 56 are critically ill.

The critically and severely ill are persons in need of oxygenation.

Meanwhile, 46 more persons have recovered pushing the tally to 47, 721.

Some 12, 344 cases are active.