The number of COVID-19 cases on record for Jamaica increased by seven as at Sunday (August 16). The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands at 1,113. Additionally, three more patients have been numbered among the recovered and released, bringing total recoveries to 764 (68.6% recovery rate). Of the newly confirmed cases, three are males and four are females,...

Non-residents visiting Jamaica from the United States, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, which have all been designated as high risk locations, are now required to obtain a COVID-19 PCR test prior to arrival. This applies to all non-residents 12 years and older, including those who are business travellers, entering the island on or after August 20 from the locations currently designated as high risk...

Jamaica recorded twenty-four (24) new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total number of confirmed positives for the island now stand at 1,106. Sixteen (16) of the newly confirmed cases are males and eight (8) are females, with ages ranging from 10 to 71 years. They have addresses in Kingston and St. Andrew (11), St. Catherine (4), St....

To date, more than 1,200 care packages have been distributed to families in the quarantined communities of Sandy Bay, in Clarendon, and Lower Summit, Church Corner and Bamboo River in St. Thomas. The 14-day quarantine became effective on August 6, and is to end on August 20,  at 6:00 a.m. However, this is contingent on whether additional Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, has again emphasised the importance of  persons adhering to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols. Addressing the opening of the Private Security Regulation Authority’s (PSRA) Western Regional Office, at Bisco Mall, in Montego Bay, St. James, on August 14, the Minister said the society must recognise that the pandemic still poses a major risk...

The Government will not endorse private laboratories conducting testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) until they complete the required validation process. This is according to Director of National Laboratory Services, Dr. Michelle Hamilton, who said the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been in discussions with several labs, “but none have met the full requirements”. “There is a validation study that...

Director of the National Laboratory Services, Dr. Michelle Hamilton, says a large shipment of testing kits is expected in the country next week to facilitate clearing of the backlog of coronavirus (COVID-19) samples for testing. Dr. Hamilton noted that the National Public Health Laboratory was on track to clear the outstanding samples. However, a previously anticipated shipment of kits needed...