MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has credited the Government's policy measures, including early planning and response to perceived threats, in enabling the country to flatten the coronairus (COVID-19) curve up to this point.

Dr Tufton, in a digital presentation to the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) on Tuesday, said that Jamaica's response was grounded in the five strategies of the country's COVID-19 Plan.

Dr Tufton pointed out that the resulting increased public awareness, early detection of cases, along with the primary health care establishment, enabled the country to mobilise response teams into communities for case investigation and contact tracing.

He said the WHA that past responses to public health emergencies, such as measles and malaria, and the experience gained have enhanced the country's contact tracing capabilities, and early implementation of these measures from the detection of the first imported case have had positive results.

Minister Tufton thanked PAHO and the WHO for the assistance provided and from which the country continues to benefit in strengthening laboratory services through increased testing capacity, which he noted, has helped to bolster the country's response to the pandemic.