Jamaica has recorded two new confirmed COVID-19 cases as at Monday (June 1). There are now 588 confirmed positives for the island. Recoveries are up by 11, bringing the total number of persons released from care to 322, also in the last 24 hours. The island now has a recovery rate of 54.8%. The two new cases are imported. Both...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is currently reviewing the Order pertaining to the closure of places of amusement, beaches and other attractions, with a view of reopening them in a limited and controlled manner. Mr. Holness, who was speaking at a virtual press conference on Sunday (May 31) at the Office of the Prime Minister...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says a robust set of protocols have been developed to protect tourism workers and provide other safeguards, as the industry prepares to restart operations that have been halted due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Our Ministry, along with the Ministry of Health [and Wellness], signed off [on May 31] with perhaps...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is finalising the validation of applications on behalf of 22,000 workers, for the Business Employee Support and Transfer of Cash (BEST Cash) component of the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme. The applications were received from 300 employers. Speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House on May 31,...

Operators of motorcars with public passenger vehicle (PPV) licences will now be allowed to carry the full complement of passengers, as stipulated by the licence. This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, as he outlined several relaxed coronavirus (COVID-19) measures, during a virtual press conference on Sunday (May 31) at the Office of the Prime Minister...

Some 500 school leaders are currently participating in the Virtual Instructional Leadership (VIL) online course, which will equip them with the necessary skills and competencies to effectively manage their schools remotely. The course targets principals and vice-principals in early-childhood, primary and secondary schools across the six educational administrative regions. It was developed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information,...

Long-term planning, infrastructural investments and individual responsibility are key to how we prepare for major disaster events, says Director of the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (DRRC) at the University of the West Indies, Dr. Barbara Carby. Speaking at a virtual town hall meeting held by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development on May 28, Dr. Carby underscored the...