Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton and senior medical personnel at the University Hospital of the West Indies, UHWI, are rejecting as false a report by a television station that there’s a suspected case of the corona virus at the hospital.

Dr. Tufton called a media conference this afternoon at his Ministry’s New Kingston headquarters and rejected the rumour.

Dr. Christopher Tufton, Health Minister.

Chief of Medical Staff at the UHWI, Dr. Carl Bruce, also addressed the media conference.

Dr. Bruce says the patient, who was at the center of the public Corona virus speculation, visited China and returned to Jamaica approximately two weeks ago.

But he says the patient is not showing symptoms consistent with the Corona virus.

Dr. Bruce says the patient is expected to be discharged from hospital soon.

Dr. Carl Bruce, Chief of Medical Staff at the University Hospital of the West Indies, UHWI.

Meantime, Acting-Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Webster-Kerr, also addressed the media conference.

She explained why the patient who’s admitted to the UHWI is not considered a suspected case of the Corona virus.

Dr. Webster Kerr says the symptoms being experienced by the patient do not meet the case definition for the virus.

Dr. Webster Kerr expanded on her explanation.

The Acting-Chief Medical Officer says because the symptoms did not meet key medical criteria for it to be considered a suspected case, it was not appropriate to send a sample overseas for testing.

Dr. Karen Webster Kerr, Acting-Chief Medical Officer addressing a media conference at the Health Ministry’s New Kingston Headquarters today.