In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the Ministry of Health and Wellness urges the public to maintain increased vigilance to avoid food-borne illnesses and potential fatalities resulting from the consumption of contaminated food and beverages.
The warning is particularly pertinent in light of the recent impact of the hurricane on the country.
The health ministry emphasizes the heightened importance of vigilance during times of disaster. As such, it advises consumers to adhere to the following guidelines when purchasing, storing, and preparing food at home.
Consumers should buy food from certified and trusted outlets and observe the following tips:
- Be wary of purchasing food that is heavily discounted in price or prices too good to be true as people may seek to pass on damaged or spoilt goods to consumers.
- Canned food should be labeled, not bloated, dented, or rusted.
- Inspect items in glass bottles for any visible cracks or damage. Also, reject any bottles that are submerged in water (flooded).
- Vegetables and ground provisions should have a fresh, firm appearance, free from odors, chemicals, discoloration, and signs of being water-soaked.
- Purchase meats and seafood from certified outlets that are frozen, not thawed, discolored, or with foul or unusual odors.
- When buying meat from a butcher, make sure to check for the following:
- Purchase from a licensed butcher to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and
- Please verify that the meat has been inspected and certified (stamped) by a Public Health Inspector, indicating it meets required health standards.
- Do not purchase meat from the backyard / under-tree operators.
- Purchase dairy (milk, cheese, butter, ice cream) from refrigerated units at certified outlets, and with caution, milk containers should not leak, be bloated, or be water-soaked.
- General consumer items should be purchased from certified and trusted outlets.
- Food purchased from a restaurant or fast-food outlet must be from vendors certified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness / Parish Health Departments.
Storing and preparing Food at Home
Food must be stored (dry and cold storage), thawed, cooked, and handled safely at home.
- Store cold foods purchased from a certified outlet quickly in your refrigerator and frozen foods in the freezer. If the power supply is down or intermittent, purchase meat and seafood for daily use and not store leftovers.
- Dairy (milk, cheese, butter) purchased from certified outlets should be for daily use.
- Frozen foods can be thawed in the refrigerator/chiller, in a microwave, as part of the cooking process, or under cool running water. Never thaw foods at room temperature.
- Foods should be cooked at the correct internal temperatures. Poultry, beef, and pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 71 – 74 degrees Celsius.
- Keep foods out of the Danger Zone Temperature (50C to 630C)
- Raw meat, chicken and other poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat food unless you keep them separate.
- When grocery shopping, keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and any drainage from these items away from other foods.
- Keep raw or marinating meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods in the refrigerator.
- Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood in sealed containers or wrap them securely to prevent liquids from draining onto other foods.
- Use one cutting board or plate for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and a separate plate for produce, bread, and other foods that won’t be cooked.
Manchioneal, Portland Residents Return Home Safely After Sheltering from Hurricane.
Positive Update After Hurricane Beryl
Great news from Manchioneal, Portland! Following Hurricane Beryl’s passage, the majority of residents who sought refuge at a disaster shelter have now safely returned home. Even the police, who had to temporarily relocate to the Manchioneal All-Age School along with a group of Haitians, are back at their original station.
During a check at the shelter on Thursday, July 4, 2024, it was found that 129 people had already returned home, with just seven individuals remaining by midday. Mayor Paul Thompson, councilor for the Manchioneal division, reported that although 17 people checked into the shelter on Tuesday, the number rose to 136 by Wednesday morning. According to him, this strong response shows that residents prioritized their safety over property.
This positive outcome reflects the community’s resilience and proactive approach in the face of adversity.
The police are advising the public to proceed with caution during recovery operations.
Police Advise Caution Following Hurricane Beryl
The police are advising the public to exercise caution as they carry out various recovery activities in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Several roadways are still blocked by downed trees and utility poles, impacting movement. Areas affected include the Bog Walk Gorge and various roadways in rural S. Andrew, Portland, St. Mary, and western Jamaica such as Guava Gap, Guys Hill, Mavis Bank, and Lawrence Tavern.
The risk of electrocution is also heightened, so individuals are urged to exercise extreme caution during cleanup activities. It is important to note that both major airports remain closed, with operations set to resume at Sangster International Airport on Thursday, July 4, at 6:00 p.m. and at Norman Manley International Airport on Friday, July 5, at 5:00 a.m. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines before traveling and to refrain from turning up at the airport without confirmation.
The NWC reports that blocked roads, power outages, and dislocated pipelines are affecting the water supply to customers.
The National Water Commission (NWC) is deeply committed to restoring regular water supply to its customers despite facing challenges such as parish-wide power outages in Portland and St Thomas, which are impacting all its facilities.
The commission is critically assessing all potable water supply systems to expedite the earliest possible resumption of full operations. However, certain facilities are still inaccessible due to blocked roadways, power outages, and dislocated pipelines.
A significant number of NWC water systems are currently out of service across various parishes, including St Ann, St Mary, Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, Hanover, and Westmoreland.
The NWC is collaborating closely with the Jamaica Public Service Company, the National Works Agency, municipal corporations, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, and other partner entities to address these issues as swiftly as possible.
In the meantime, the company has mobilized generators for its major systems to either restart or maintain operations.