Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, has reported that the majority of persons who contracted the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Jamaica are asymptomatic. “Our experience with COVID-19, so far, is that very few persons get ill,” Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said, at a virtual press conference in Kingston on May 13. “So far, of the 509 positive cases we have seen,...

The Government has emphasised that reopening of the economy is imperative, even as the country fights the coronavirus (COVID-19). “At some point, we’re going to have to gradually move back to a place where persons can lead normal lives, even with COVID present in the population, and so it [reopening the economy] really is an attempt to start a process,...

As the country turns the spotlight on children for National Children’s Day on Friday (May 15), parents are being encouraged to break from their daily activities or routine and to immerse themselves in engaging in fun and bond-creating activities with their children. Chief Executive Officer of the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), Kaysia Kerr, said that the focus must be...

Legislators on Wednesday (May 13) began debate on the Data Protection Act, 2020, which, when passed, will enshrine in law measures to protect the privacy and personal information of Jamaicans. Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams, who piloted the Bill during the sitting of the House of Representatives, noted that while the Jamaican Constitution has been amended...

The Junior Council of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has rolled out a campaign to assist students across the island whose studies have been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Public Relations Officer of the Junior Council, Reajean Bennett, told JIS News that the initiative, dubbed ‘COVID-19: Building Resilient Students’, was launched on April 16 and seeks...

For the first time in some 50 days, Jamaica has recorded no new positive cases of COVID-19 on the island even as recoveries rose to 118, up from 113 in the last 24 hours. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jamaica as at Thursday (May 14) remains at 509. In addition to the 224 cases that are employees...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, tabled the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 2020/2021, in the House of Representatives, on May 13. The figures show that the Budget for the 2020/21 fiscal year has been revised to $838.15 billion, down from $853.46 billion. The Recurrent (Housekeeping) budget has been increased from $779 billion...