The death toll from COVID-19 in Jamaica increased by four on Easter Monday, according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The deceased are a 33-year-old female from St Catherine; a 72-year-old female from Portland; an 88-year-old male from Kingston and St Andrew; and a 53-year-old male, also from Kingston and St Andrew. Another eight deaths of COVID-positive patients during the 24-hour period are under investigation while another was classified as coincidental.

The latest fatalities bring the death toll from the coronavirus in Jamaica to 622.

In the meantime, Jamaica recorded 315 newly-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of cases on record for the island to 41,328. Recoveries increased by 147, bringing total recoveries to 18,444.

Of the newly confirmed cases, 170 are females and 144 are males, with the sex of one patient awaiting confirmation. Ages range from two months to 96 years. The cases were recorded in Kingston and St Andrew (66), St Catherine (48), St Ann (38), Westmoreland (32), Trelawny (22), St Elizabeth (20), Clarendon (18), St James (18), Manchester (17), Hanover (12), St Mary (12), St Thomas (11) and Portland (one).

There are 31 moderately ill patients and 33 critically ill patients among the 21,971 active cases now under observation in Jamaica.