Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the protocols for the resumption of operations in the workplace will be published and disseminated within the next week. He said that the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force, which is crafting the protocols, is “far advanced” in its work. Dr. Clarke chairs the multisector working group established...

As at Friday (May 29), 619 new samples were tested for COVID-19, seven (7) of which returned positive results. Jamaica now has a total of 575 confirmed COVID-19 cases, following the discovery of a positive test result that had been counted twice. In the meantime, recoveries have increased by five, to now total 289 patients, who have recovered and have...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, says the nation requires the collective utilisation of resources at its disposal to overcome the challenges associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Speaking at the PIOJ’s digital quarterly media briefing on May 27, Dr. Henry said that Jamaica has entered a period of “significant challenges”, consequent on...

Members of the Senate, on Friday (May 29), paused to observe a moment of silence for the late Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson. They had just received word that Mrs. Robinson, who had served as Member of Parliament for North East St. Ann since 2001, had passed away after ailing for some time. She was 66...

The Mico University College has launched a ‘COVID-19 Relief Programme’ aimed at raising US$1 million to support students who have been experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus. Director of Student Services, Annett Daley, said the funds will be used to cover partial tuition, purchase 250 information and communications technology (ICT) devices and data plans to support students’ remote learning,...

World No Tobacco Day will be observed on Sunday, May 31 under the theme ‘COVID is no Joke, it gets Worse with Smoke’. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on Wednesday, May 27, Chairman of the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC), Dr. Aggrey Irons, explained the rationale for the focus of the 2020 observation. “We are discouraging the use...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says safeguarding the welfare of the homeless is a priority for the Government during the hurricane season, which begins on June 1. Speaking at a digital town hall on Thursday (May 28), Minister McKenzie informed that shelters are being equipped to accommodate persons living on the streets, should the need...