Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says the coronavirus (COVID-19) experience presents the opportunity for member states to prepare for future epidemics and pandemics. She noted that the lessons learnt will better enable countries to build resilience and scale up health systems to “deliver on all of the services that our people need, without causing them impoverishment”....

The Government is making arrangements to repatriate the 43 crew members aboard the Marella Discovery 2 cruise ship, which is now docked in the United Kingdom (UK). The ship was in Jamaican waters for refueling on April 2, when a request was made for the Jamaicans on board to disembark for repatriation, but the vessel left before the Government’s approval...

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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is advising that it is in discussions with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Embassy of the United States of America to identify any issues related to shipments of critical COVID 19 related material which may have an impact on the Jamaican Government’s response to the outbreak. Minister of Foreign...

The Government of Jamaica wishes to advise of the facts regarding a request made on Thursday April 2, 2020 to allow entry and landing of Jamaican workers who were aboard the Marella Discovery 2. We understand the disappointment and anxiety of these cruise line workers and similar sentiments experienced by other Jamaican workers overseas who await the reopening of our...

Spanish-owned companies that hold investments in Jamaica have donated US$200,000 to the Government to aid in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19). The donation is being made through the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation, which was established by the group of Spanish investors in Jamaica to channel their corporate social responsibility activities through a single entity. This was announced by Spanish Ambassador to...

The Government yesterday (April 8) received 29 ventilators valued at approximately €1 million from the European Union (EU), to support patients who need intensive care in hospitals and to treat patients infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). They will be distributed to hospitals across the island. Of the total, six are small mobile ventilators. The units were handed over to Minister...