Another 50,000 Jamaicans are to benefit from cash grants under the Government’s COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme, which will continue with a further allotment of $3 billion in the 2021/22 budget. This was noted by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, as he piloted the Appropriations...

The Disaster Risk Management (Amendment) Act, 2021, which will strengthen enforcement measures relating to the management of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, was approved in the Senate on Friday (March 26). The Bill seeks to amend the Disaster Risk Management Act to introduce a specific enforceable system of sanctions against persons who breach the public health protocols. Leader of Government Business...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says that approximately 30,000 doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine have been administered so far. “We (had) about 64,000 doses so we are just about at the half-way mark and so we will continue to administer what we have. We do expect a shipment (of) 26,000 doses in early April,...

Head of the Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Joseph Plummer, is imploring persons who have been instructed to do the necessary investigations for colorectal cancer not to put off doing these tests due to the pandemic, as the consequences could be dire. He cited the case of a...

One caregiver will be allowed with each person aged 75 years and older who goes to the National Arena for the Government’s first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination Blitz on Saturday, March 27. It will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for elderly persons who have scheduled an appointment. Seventy doctors will be on location with public health nurses and...

Jamaicans are being urged to support the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) as they cope with the financial challenges caused by the coronavirus (COVID) pandemic. The appeal came from JCS Chairman, Earl Jarrett, while addressing the recent virtual colon cancer medical symposium. Mr. Jarrett noted that the pandemic has affected the ability of the...

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is imploring Jamaicans to continue to exercise vigilance in observing the coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols. The call comes as India announces a temporary suspension of vaccine exports to focus on its domestic vaccination programme, which could cause disruption in supplies to countries. Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in India, with more than...