Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, is calling on member countries to utilise data derived from surveillance activities to inform public health responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Speaking during PAHO’s weekly digital media briefing on Tuesday (June 2), Dr. Etienne encouraged countries not to “make decisions in the dark” but, rather, to draw on available data...

Jamaica has recorded two new confirmed COVID-19 cases as at Monday (June 1). There are now 588 confirmed positives for the island. Recoveries are up by 11, bringing the total number of persons released from care to 322, also in the last 24 hours. The island now has a recovery rate of 54.8%. The two new cases are imported. Both...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is currently reviewing the Order pertaining to the closure of places of amusement, beaches and other attractions, with a view of reopening them in a limited and controlled manner. Mr. Holness, who was speaking at a virtual press conference on Sunday (May 31) at the Office of the Prime Minister...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says a robust set of protocols have been developed to protect tourism workers and provide other safeguards, as the industry prepares to restart operations that have been halted due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Our Ministry, along with the Ministry of Health [and Wellness], signed off [on May 31] with perhaps...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is finalising the validation of applications on behalf of 22,000 workers, for the Business Employee Support and Transfer of Cash (BEST Cash) component of the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme. The applications were received from 300 employers. Speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House on May 31,...

Operators of motorcars with public passenger vehicle (PPV) licences will now be allowed to carry the full complement of passengers, as stipulated by the licence. This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, as he outlined several relaxed coronavirus (COVID-19) measures, during a virtual press conference on Sunday (May 31) at the Office of the Prime Minister...

In keeping with its strategy to expand online payment offerings and to promote selfservice business transactions, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has initiated a project to explore an online payment option for the renewal of Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate (MVRC). Against this background TAJ is conducting a survey, which is designed to test the appetite of motorists on whether or not...