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Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.
Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.
Coronavirus

Jamaica To Get More Vaccines Through COVAX Facility

Jamaica is slated to get another 370,000 doses of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines through the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. The provision, which is expected to arrive in the next few weeks, is part of more...
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, emphasises a point, while making a statement during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 26).
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, emphasises a point, while making a statement during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 26).

376 Primary Schools To Reopen For Face-To-Face Classes
Chairman of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operationalisation Task Force, Professor Gordon Shirley (second left), is in discussion with other members of the task force (from left) Consultant, Office of the Prime Minister, Alok Jain; Brigadier Markland Lloyd of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); and President and Chief Executive Officer, ICD Group Holdings Limited, Peter Melhado, during a press conference at Jamaica House on October 27.
Chairman of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operationalisation Task Force, Professor Gordon Shirley (second left), is in discussion with other members of the task force (from left) Consultant, Office of the Prime Minister, Alok Jain; Brigadier Markland Lloyd of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); and President and Chief Executive Officer, ICD Group Holdings Limited, Peter Melhado, during a press conference at Jamaica House on October 27.

Task Force Recommends Vaccination, Testing Protocol For Workers
As hundreds of primary-level institutions prepare to resume face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is advising school administrators to ensure that all the necessary protocols are in place. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced on Tuesday (October 26), that 376 schools have been selected to offer in-person classes beginning November 8. The Education Ministry, in a bulletin, said that administrators are required to obtain a satisfactory institutional health inspection and coronavirus (COVID-19)-compliant approval report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness for this new academic year. In addition, administrators should engage parents in consultation to arrive at a consensus on the start date for in-person learning, which should provide adequate time to prepare the students. They should also submit, to the regional office, a copy of the satisfactory health report and a letter signed by the board chairman, indicating the extent of the parent consultation and the proposed start date for face-to-face engagement. The letter is to outline the schedule for in-person learning, including the approach to be used – whole day or rotational. Where the COVID-19 protocols allow, all the students should be accommodated daily. However, where this is not possible, each year group will be given at least two days of in-person learning each week. The education region in consultation with the Ministry’s Planning and Development Division and the Schools’ Operations and Improvement Services Branch, will provide written approval for the commencement of face-to-face instruction. The region will also provide monitoring support as is customary.
As hundreds of primary-level institutions prepare to resume face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is advising school administrators to ensure that all the necessary protocols are in place. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced on Tuesday (October 26), that 376 schools have been selected to offer in-person classes beginning November 8. The Education Ministry, in a bulletin, said that administrators are required to obtain a satisfactory institutional health inspection and coronavirus (COVID-19)-compliant approval report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness for this new academic year. In addition, administrators should engage parents in consultation to arrive at a consensus on the start date for in-person learning, which should provide adequate time to prepare the students. They should also submit, to the regional office, a copy of the satisfactory health report and a letter signed by the board chairman, indicating the extent of the parent consultation and the proposed start date for face-to-face engagement. The letter is to outline the schedule for in-person learning, including the approach to be used – whole day or rotational. Where the COVID-19 protocols allow, all the students should be accommodated daily. However, where this is not possible, each year group will be given at least two days of in-person learning each week. The education region in consultation with the Ministry’s Planning and Development Division and the Schools’ Operations and Improvement Services Branch, will provide written approval for the commencement of face-to-face instruction. The region will also provide monitoring support as is customary.

Schools Advised To Put Protocols In Place For In-Person Classes
An aircraft belonging to Frontier arriving at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay from Miami, Florida, in May.
An aircraft belonging to Frontier arriving at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay from Miami, Florida, in May.

Frontier Airlines to Increase Flights to Jamaica

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Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addressing Wednesday’s (October 26) COVID Conversations virtual press briefing.
CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

100 Private Doctors to Begin Administering COVID-19 Vaccines As At Wednesday

Starting Wednesday, October 27, approximately 100 private doctors will begin administering coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in their practice. Making the announcement at Tuesday’s (October 26) virtual COVID-19 Conversations press briefing, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the vaccines will be offered free of charge to patients. He informed that the doctors are registered with the Medical...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), engages with persons gathered at the Croft's Hill Health Centre in Clarendon to receive their vaccine, while on a vaccination mobilisation tour of the parish, recently. Standing next to the Prime Minister is Member of Parliament for Clarendon Northern, Dwight Sibblies.
CoronavirusHealth & WellnessPrime Minister

PM Urges Continued Vigilance Against COVID-19

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that even though the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates are trending downwards, the population should remain vigilant against the virus. Speaking with reporters during a recent vaccination mobilisation tour in Clarendon, the Prime Minster noted that whenever the COVID-19 rates decrease, persons tend to feel that the country is out of danger and...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), applauds as farmer, Leslie Sharpe (seated-right), takes the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, being administered by nurse Sasha Ford (right) at the James Hill Health Centre in Clarendon, recently. Sharing in the moment (from left) are Member of Parliament for Clarendon Northern, Dwight Sibblies; Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; and other healthcare professionals.
CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

Government Considering Differential Treatment Based on Vaccination Status

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that Jamaicans will not be forced or mandated to accept the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, but noted that there may be “differential treatment” for persons who take the vaccines versus those who refuse to be inoculated. The Prime Minister, who was speaking with residents of James Hill in Clarendon, recently, noted that differential...
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Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.
CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

Dr. Tufton Hails Work of Public Health Inspectors

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has lauded the work of the country’s public health inspectors in ensuring a healthy and safe environment, particularly as the country combats the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Director of the Environmental Health Unit in the Ministry, Everton Baker, at the opening of the...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, emphasiss a point, while making a statement during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct. 26).
CoronavirusHealth & WellnessParliamentPrime Minister

PM Announces New Curfew Hours; Sunday No Longer A No-Movement Day

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced new curfew hours, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., seven days per week, effective Friday (October 29). With the adjustment, Sunday will no longer be a no-movement day. “This new curfew will remain in effect until December 10, 2021. I will have some consultations with interest groups, and I will definitely...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.
CoronavirusPrime Minister

PM To Provide Update on COVID-19 Measures

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is expected to provide an update to the nation today (October 26) regarding new measures aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The current COVID-19 measures, which became effective from Saturday, September 18 are slated to end on Thursday, October 28, 2021. Since March 10, 2020, the Government has employed the...
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Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne.
CoronavirusHealth & WellnessTechnology

PAHO Boosting Virus Surveillance

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is looking to implement a new PCR-based multiplex protocol that allows member countries to simultaneously detect the coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza infections from the same sample. Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, said that the undertaking, being done in tandem with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is intended to boost regional...
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Jamaica Information Service