Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres had important discussions concerning the pandemic’s devastating impacts on vulnerable economies and developing countries. They discussed debt and liquidity issues and the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States, which are highly prone to the devastating effects of climate change and natural...

The National Water Commission (NWC) wishes to advise its customers that all its commercial offices will close at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021. This closure is being done based on the recent directive from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in Jamaica. Based on the curfew measures, the commercial offices will also be...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 23) passed legislation that will introduce a specific enforceable system of sanctions against persons who breach the public health protocols. This includes fixed penalties ranging from $3,000 to $500,000. The Bill, entitled, The Disaster Risk Management (Amendment) Act, was passed with two amendments. Since March 10, 2020, the Government has employed the Disaster...

NEW CASES 24 HRS OVERALL  NOTES Confirmed Cases 439 36,670 SEX CLASSIFICATION     Females 252 20,626 Males 187 16,041 Under Investigation 0 3 AGE RANGE 2 days to 96 years 1 day to 108 years PARISH CLASSIFICATION OF NEW CASES       Clarendon 16 2,058 Hanover 15 1,040 KSA 117 10,415 Manchester 41 2,221 Portland 27 1,161 St....

Only priority groups selected for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination will be allowed to register online via the just-launched vaccination appointment system. The priority groups now being inoculated are persons aged 75 years and older, as well as members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan,...

Chief Public Health Inspector for St. Elizabeth, Everod Lewis, says the Aedes aegypti mosquito population in the parish has been reduced to seven per cent, as vector-control measures continue in a bid to counter the spread of the dengue virus. Speaking at the recent monthly meeting of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation in Black River, Mr. Lewis informed that approximately...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reporting that, as at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday (March 23), at least 4,108 persons had booked appointments to receive coronavirus vaccinations utilising its online registration portal. This was disclosed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dunstan Bryan, while addressing the weekly virtual COVID-19 Conversations press briefing on Tuesday (March 23). He also informed...