Effective July 1, persons who are applying to travel to Jamaica from high-risk states in the United States (US) will have to pretest for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and submit the results in order for their application for entry to be considered. Visitors from Florida, Arizona, New York and Texas, which have been declared as high-risk areas by the Ministry of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is expected to make a statement in Parliament on Wednesday (July 1) outlining measures relating to the opening of beaches and rivers. Speaking at a virtual media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday (June 29), Mr. McKenzie informed that visitors to beaches and rivers were not...

As Jamaica continues to relax coronavirus (COVID- 19) restrictions, public gatherings have been increased to a maximum of 20 persons for the next two weeks. In March, when the Government started implementing measures to contain and reduce the spread of the virus, public gathering was reduced to no more than 20 persons, and was further restricted to no more than...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that the Government is looking to gradually reopen the entertainment industry and will commence meetings this week to establish protocols for the resumption of activities. "At our next (coronavirus) COVID-19 Management meeting, which would be Friday of this week, we will be looking at some of the proposals and suggestions," he said....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says he will announce the protocols that have been established for the reopening of nurseries and day-care facilities shortly. "Day care and nurseries – it's a big issue; we spent some time last week discussing them – the Ministry of Health (and Wellness), the Ministry of Local Government and [Community Development] and the...

Bank of Jamaica announces its decision to hold the policy interest rate (the rate offered to deposit-taking institutions on overnight placements with Bank of Jamaica) unchanged at 0.50 per cent per annum. The decision to hold the policy rate unchanged is based on the Bank’s continued view that monetary conditions are generally appropriate to support inflation remaining within the target...

The National Surveillance Unit in the Ministry of Health & Wellness has indicated that there are two new confirmed COVID-19 cases as at Monday (June 29). The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jamaica is now 698. At the same time, one additional patient has recovered and has been released from isolation, bringing the total number of recoveries to...