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...

Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth North Eastern, Delroy Slowley, says he intends to lobby the HEART/NSTA Trust to establish a HEART campus or community training institution within the constituency that could train more than 100 youth per year. Mr. Slowley was making his contribution to the 2021/22 State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday...

The St. Elizabeth Health Department has stepped up mosquito eradication activities in the parish. Speaking at Thursday’s (October 14) monthly meeting of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Chief Public Health Inspector for the parish, Everod Lewis, said that fogging was carried out across 16 communities. The areas included Barbary Hall, Stonefield, Watchwell, Alpart, Treasure Beach, Maggotty, Dry River, New Holland,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is encouraging businesses to dialogue with workers to obtain vaccine uptake and buy-in before deciding to embark on a mandatory exercise. “What we recommend to employers who would seek to do this is that they go through a very thorough process of engaging their employees, and companies have done that,” the Prime Minister...

The Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) received a donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Diaspora for Children Foundation (D4CF), to assist with the fight against the coronavirus. The donation includes 360 PPE gowns, 1300 disposable face mask with ear-loops, 720 N95 masks, 224 face shields, 1750 Powder free nitric exam gloves, 2400 Rhino Original Nitrile powder free gloves...

The health team from the Clarendon Health Services will host a vaccination drive in the town centre (under the clock) this Friday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Persons are being encouraged to travel with their government issued identification and Tax Registration Number card to make the vaccination process easier. Persons who wish to use the opportunity to...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says players in the tourism industry are at risk of losing out on potential visitors and foreign earnings if front-line staff fail to support the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. Mr. Bartlett told journalists at a tablet and laptop handover ceremony at the Holiday Inn Resort and Spa in St. James on October 8 it is...