Churches located in the parishes where stricter curfew measures have been imposed will be prohibited from holding funeral services, conventions and other civic activities. This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who noted that these churches will be able to hold their regular worship services. "Burials, however, will continue, but with strict observation and enforcement of...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has cleared the remaining 2,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) samples for testing. This was stated by Head of the National Public Health Laboratory, Dr. Michelle Hamilton, during a digital COVID Conversations press conference on Thursday (August 20). “The reagent for the cobas 6800 that we spoke about at the last press briefing did arrive in Jamaica...

In keeping with its own established protocol for infection prevention and control, the Ministry has decided to suspend operations for Friday, August 21, 2020 at its offices located on the RKA Building in New Kingston. This decision comes on the heels of an advisory that an employee assigned to that location has tested positive for COVID-19. This suspension of operation...

The total number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Jamaica now stands at 1,290, with 98 persons testing positive as at Thursday (August 20). At the same time, 16 more patients have recovered from the virus, increasing the number of recoveries to 788, and one person has died from the virus within the last 24 hours, bringing the total to...

Jamaica has recorded 46 new COVID-19 cases as at Wednesday (August 19), bringing to 1,192 the total number of confirmed positives. Also in the last 24 hours, recoveries moved to 772, as two additional persons were released from care. Of the 46 newly confirmed cases, there were 22 males and 24 females, with ages ranging from four (4) years to...

With the continued increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in St. Thomas, the decision has been taken to put additional communities within the parish under quarantine. The communities are Albion and Seaforth that have seen 13 cases over the last three weeks. Many of the cases are symptomatic, which is a cause for concern and suggests that there may...

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, says a risk assessment of trends in the new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is being done by health officials to assist in determining whether the proposed phased reopening of schools for the 2020/21 academic year, beginning September 7, should proceed or be delayed. “If the cases continue to spike and it is...