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Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, speaking during Monday’s (March 8) COVID-19 digital briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Media Centre.

Public Hospitals Instructed Not To Turn Away Patients – Dr. Tufton

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says public hospitals have been instructed not to turn away persons seeking medical attention, despite space constraints at a number of institutions, largely due to the heightened number of coronavirus (COVID-19)-related...

Public Health Nurse, Marcia Thomas-Yetman (right) receives the first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to be given in Jamaica, on Wednesday (March 10), at The Good Samaritan’s Inn in Kingston. Administering the vaccine is Nurse Fiona Ellis.

Public Health Nurse Is First Person In Jamaica To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

Chief Executive Officer of Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley (Photo: Mark Bell)

Only Approved COVID-19 Test Kits Being Used By Accredited Local Labs

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addresses virtual press conference on March 8.

Health Minister Reiterates Appeal For Persons To Obey COVID-19 Protocols

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan, speaks at a virtual press conference on March 8.

Persons Trained For Vaccination Programme

Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris.

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Hospitalisations, Infections

Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris, says take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine has shown efficacy in reducing hospitalisations and the rate of infections. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Mr. Morris said countries that have been vaccinating citizens have seen declines in the number of people being hospitalised due to the virus. “So there are benefits as...

Executive Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Michael Tucker

5 years ago Health & Wellness

Campaign Launched To Increase Awareness Of The Uses And Effects Of Ganja

In a bid to increase public awareness of the uses and effects of marijuana (ganja), the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) has launched its ‘Good Ganja Sense’ campaign. The virtual launch of the campaign on Tuesday (March 9) seeks to address the issue of low levels of ganja literacy, with the intended outcome to have Jamaicans make better choices...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), converses with Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), following Monday’s (March 8) COVID-19 digital briefing. At right is Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. The briefing was held at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Media Centre.

5 years ago Coronavirus

Government On Track With Legislation To Ticket Persons Not Wearing Masks In Public

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is on track to introduce legislation for the ticketing of persons not wearing masks in public, as part of coronavirus (COVID-19) containment measures stipulated in the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA). Speaking at a digital media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Media Centre, on Monday (March...

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn.

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

Citizens Encouraged To Use Accredited Labs For Testing

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn and Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley, are encouraging citizens to utilise accredited medical labs. “It is important, and I can't overemphasise that persons need to access accredited facilities. Accreditation underscores data quality, data handling and client care,...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addressing a virtual press conference on March 8.

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

Gov’t To Acquire Equipment To Test For COVID-19 Variant Strains

The Government is moving to acquire critical pieces of equipment that will allow the country to conduct tests for the presence of coronavirus (COVID-19) variant strains in the island. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, made the disclosure at a virtual press conference on March 8. He confirmed the presence of the United Kingdom (UK) variant...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, speaking at the virtual press conference held at Jamaica House on Monday (March 8).

5 years ago Coronavirus

Gov’t Prepared To Take More Stringent Measures – PM

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is prepared to take more stringent measures, including a national lockdown, if the number of positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to rise. “These measures will have an impact on the economy. It will have even greater impact on your ability to move; it will have even greater impact...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan, speaks at a virtual press conference, held at Jamaica House on Monday (March 8).

5 years ago CoronavirusHealth & Wellness

First Set Of COVID-19 Vaccines To Be Administered March 10

The Government is to administer the first set of vaccines in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19), on Wednesday, March 10. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan, gave this update during a virtual press conference held at Jamaica House on Monday (March 8). “On Wednesday, approximately 3,280 persons will be vaccinated,” the Permanent Secretary pointed...