The Ministry of Health and Wellness is in the process of acquiring 150,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) self-testing kits, which will be made available to the public free of cost. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, made the announcement at the COVID conversations press briefing held on December 15. “That process is taking place, as we speak, in terms of determining...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is now providing booster shots to Jamaicans 18 years and older who qualify. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, made the announcement during a virtual COVID-19 Conversation press briefing held on December 15. Previously, persons 60 years and older, along with healthcare workers, were being provided with booster shots. Dr. Tufton explained that...

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine supplies across the region are expected to improve in 2022. Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital media briefing on Wednesday (December 15), Dr. Etienne, who noted that global vaccine availability has increased in recent months, said agreements for the provision of additional doses have been reached with AstraZeneca,...

  NEW CASES 24 HRS OVERALL Confirmed Cases 59 91,927 SEX CLASSIFICATION     Females 26 52,301 Males 33 39,623 Under Investigation 0 3 AGE RANGE 1 year to 89 years 1 day to 108 years PARISH CLASSIFICATION OF CASES     Clarendon 1 4,939 Hanover 3 3,000 KSA 23 22,684 Manchester 5 5,989 Portland 0 2,522 St. Ann 6...

The country’s COVID-19 response has been further boosted with the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and testing kits. They include 12,500 N95 respirators, 18,750 isolation gowns and 60 viral RNA test kits and were provided to the Ministry of Health and Wellness by partners, the European Union (EU) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The provision was made...

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) member countries are being encouraged to prepare to leverage and deploy new pharmaceuticals being developed to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19). Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, notes that several “promising” new drugs are in late-stage development “that may help us treat COVID-19, and thus avoid hospitalisations and prevent deaths.” Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital media briefing on...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr.  the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says restoration works at the Cornwall Regional Hospital is now expected to be completed late 2022. Speaking in the House of Representatives on December 14, the Minister said rehabilitative works under the penultimate phase have started. The disclosure follows last month’s contract signing with contractors, M and M Jamaica Limited...