The Government notes the unprecedented collapse in world oil markets today (April 20) where prices collapsed more than 99% before going negative. Over the past few weeks, we have had a small team from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service working with our bankers and multilateral partners on the possibility of hedging Jamaica’s future oil supplies. The team...

Teachers are benefiting from virtual professional development online workshops delivered by volunteer instructors in the diaspora. This is being spearheaded by the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network (JDTAN) through its ongoing weekly workshops, titled, JAMINARS. More than 2,000 teachers have registered for JAMINARS to date. The next JAMINAR, ‘Coping with COVID-19 – Selfcare for teachers and parents’, will be held...

The annual Child Month celebration in May will look a little different this year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With Jamaicans instructed to avoid mass gatherings as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus, activities have been scaled back with some events, including the national church service, to be held virtually. Chair of the National Child...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will be seeking the assistance of general practitioners (GPs) in facilitating expanded testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19). This was noted by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, who said this is being done to capture persons who are self-isolating by staying home and not visiting...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says a health and safety protocol component has been added to the free online training for tourism workers. Speaking at a digital press conference on April 17, he informed that the training is expected to be launched next Wednesday (April 22), at 2:00 p.m. through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI). The Minister...

The National Surveillance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness has advised that 23 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Jamaica, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 196 as at Sunday (April 19). There are now 34 imported cases; 43 are contacts of a confirmed case; 6 are local transmission with no epidemiological...

The number of confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Jamaica has risen to 173 over the last 24 hours. There are now: 34 imported cases; 25 that are import-related; 6 that are local transmission with no epidemiological link; 14 that are contacts of cases not epidemiologically linked; and 6 that are under investigation. Eighty-four (84) are Alorica workers and...