The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is looking to facilitate the vaccination of at least 70 per cent of the collective population of Latin American and Caribbean member countries against the coronavirus (COVID-19) by mid-2022. Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, who notes that more than 60 per cent of people in these states have been fully immunised, says PAHO’s Revolving Fund...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, says several measures are in place to reach persons who need regular care from public hospitals, despite the emergency mode under which they are operating because of COVID-19 admissions. She said various forms of evaluating patients to determine their condition and to deliver medication to them have been implemented, while they review how...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, is reporting that the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is now in 75 per cent of communities across the island, with 828 hospital admissions. Addressing a COVID Conversations Digital Press Conference held on January 20, the CMO said over the past two weeks the number of deaths has been climbing and warned that...

The genome sequencing machine at the National Influenza Centre (NIC) at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) is now being utilised for the testing of the first batch of samples for coronavirus (COVID-19) variants. The testing of samples is part of the training in the use of the machine, which got under way recently. Addressing Thursday’s (January 20)...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says with more than 700 beds occupied in public hospitals by coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, the priority is to save lives. Speaking with reporters at the National Health Fund (NHF) Marcus Garvey facility in St. Andrew on Tuesday (January 18), the Minister said persons with chronic illnesses have also brought added...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is once again calling on Jamaicans to take greater personal responsibility to protect themselves from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Addressing the official opening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s new headquarters in downtown Kingston on January 19, Mr. Holness urged Jamaicans to adhere to the measures that have been implemented under...

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is recommending that member countries prioritise rapid antigen testing for persons experiencing coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and who are at risk of spreading the virus. Speaking during PAHO’s weekly digital COVID-19 media briefing on Wednesday (January 19), Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, said the recommendation comes against the background of surging COVID-19 cases across the region,...