The Government will not endorse private laboratories conducting testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) until they complete the required validation process. This is according to Director of National Laboratory Services, Dr. Michelle Hamilton, who said the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been in discussions with several labs, “but none have met the full requirements”. “There is a validation study that...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, says the four persons who recently died from the coronavirus (COVID-19), including a 37-year-old, all suffered from co-morbid diseases. Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie, who was speaking on August 13 during the weekly virtual COVID Conversations press briefing, said there was neurological disease in one person, diabetes mellitus in two persons, hypertension in one, renal impairment...

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean, says all schools are receiving attention for a “safe reopening” in September. Speaking at a virtual forum on August 13, to update stakeholders on the Ministry’s plans to make schools safe against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Dr. McLean said international and local data are being used...

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness have agreed on a COVID-19 protocol for elections, says the Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown. “We, the Electoral Office of Jamaica and by extension the Electoral Commission of Jamaica have signed off with the Ministry of Health [and Wellness], on a COVID-19 elections protocol. What that protocol...

The country’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie, is warning Jamaicans to avoid travelling in overcrowded taxis as part of measures to prevent transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). She said that persons should wear masks during the entire driving period and ensure that the windows of the vehicle are open to allow for ventilation and that the air-conditioning system...

Jamaica is looking into the possibility of allowing persons in quarantine to vote, as the nation gears up for the General Election on September 3, amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This was disclosed by the island’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie, during Thursday’s (August 13) weekly virtual COVID Conversations press briefing at the Ministry of Health and Wellness...

Six new samples have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last 24 hours, which brings the total number of confirmed cases in Jamaica to 1,071. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, gave an update during the Ministry’s COVID Conversations Digital Press Conference on Thursday (August 13), at the Ministry’s offices. He said the newly...