COVID-19 patient commits suicide

A Westmoreland man who tested positive for COVID-19, and was admitted to the isolation ward at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, committed suicide at the hospital on Thursday morning.

His body was found hanging from the roof of the ward he was on. A source close to the deceased told THE WEEKEND STAR that he became distressed after testing positive for COVID-19, but he gave no indication that he was contemplating suicide.

"After he got the news, it was clear that he was not happy and was seen talking to himself a lot," the source said. "He never really looked sick so it came as a surprise that he decided to end his life rather than to fight the disease." Errol Greene, regional director of the Western Regional Health Authority, confirmed the death.

"The regional technical director went to get a full detailed report on the matter, but I can confirm that, yes, a COVID positive patient committed suicide at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital," said Greene. "He committed suicide, and so the relatives will just have to come and take the body. Whether there's a post-mortem to be done, I don't know if the doctor is going to order that. We will do our investigations, and we are investigating the matter now."

Superintendent Robert Gordon, the commanding officer for the Westmoreland police, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the police are investigating.

"Our investigators went to the hospital and we have collected statements, which will be used to make a determination as to what happened," he said.

Gordon urged senior citizens to follow the protocols and stay home to limit the chances of contracting COVID-19 "as based on the medical experts, older persons are more likely to contract the virus".

Westmoreland has 119 confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 22 COVID-19 deaths in Jamaica between Sunday and Wednesday. The number of deaths on the island have climbed to 111. Jamaica has so far registered in excess of 6,555 cases, with 385 of those coming in the last four days.