Jamaica has now recorded its 8th case of the coranavirus (COVID-19), joining more than 100 countries which have so far been impacted. We are closely monitoring the developments around the virus and wish to share with you what we are doing to mitigate its spread. Prior to the confirmation of these cases, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, was taking...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, is reporting that all of the 589 registered Jamaican nationals scattered across China are healthy and have not contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19). She noted that included are persons in Wuhan, where the virus started. The Minister said that, currently, there are 260 students studying in China on...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says wards at 19 hospitals will be retrofitted to house patients with the coronavirus (COVID-19). He said that the management of the facilities “were asked to identify a ward that will be vacated and retrofitted to become a COVID-19 ward and that would include levels of isolation”. Dr. Tufton was responding...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has provided additional telephone numbers that persons can call to acquire information and make reports regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These are: 888-754-7792; 876-542-5998; 876-542-6007; and 876-542- 6006, and are in addition to the 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683) toll-free number. This was announced by Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in a statement to the House of Representatives on...

Jamaica will be closing its Consulate General in New York, and the consular departments in Washington DC and London for one week starting on Monday (March 16), due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, in making the announcement at a press briefing at the Office of the Prime...

Minister with oversight for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, says that classes at the University of the West Indies (UWI) will be suspended until after Easter in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Two imported cases of the virus have been confirmed in the island. Mr. Samuda made the announcement in the House of Representatives on March 12. The...

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has activated its COVID-19 prevention plan to decrease the likelihood of the spread of the virus within correctional facilities island-wide. Effective Monday, March 16, all external visits to the facilities will be suspended for two weeks. During this period, the public will not be allowed to take food or care packages to correctional centres....