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...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaica is to receive approximately 145,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week. Of the total, 45,630 doses are being donated by the Government of Suriname while 100,620 doses were purchased through the COVAX Facility. Dr. Tufton said that administration of the Pfizer vaccine is expected to commence on...

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...

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...

Camrie Hines of Westmoreland is the Public Health Inspector for the Year 2021. Mr. Hines walked away with the coveted trophy and $80,000 monetary prize during the Jamaica Association of Public Health Inspectors’ (JAPHI) 75th Annual Educational Conference opening and awards ceremony hosted virtually from The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (October 25). The event was part...

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Ltd in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Wellness will on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, mount its first vaccination effort dubbed Vax-Up Day at the Half-Way- Tree Transport Centre, St. Andrew. It will run from 10am – 7pm. Corporate Communications Manager at the JUTC Cecil Thoms says "it is clear to us that as...

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has developed a modelling tool that tracks cases during outbreaks of diseases, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19), and forecasts short-term trends. Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, said that this tool will help member countries analyse the impact of different public health measures to inform their responses. “Today, countries in the Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda,...