Jamaica is looking into the possibility of allowing persons in quarantine to vote, as the nation gears up for the General Election on September 3, amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This was disclosed by the island’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie, during Thursday’s (August 13) weekly virtual COVID Conversations press briefing at the Ministry of Health and Wellness...

Six new samples have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last 24 hours, which brings the total number of confirmed cases in Jamaica to 1,071. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, gave an update during the Ministry’s COVID Conversations Digital Press Conference on Thursday (August 13), at the Ministry’s offices. He said the newly...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has called on medical officers of health, public health inspectors, vector control workers and officers in the Ministry to recommit to the mission of safeguarding the country against any future outbreaks of the dengue virus. He said that citizens need to be reminded, “starting with us, that dengue is still...

General Surgeon at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland, Dr. Lincoln Cox, says that many cancer patients are putting themselves at risk by turning to alternative medicine rather than sticking with the tried and proven conventional treatments. Speaking at a recent Think Tank at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Regional Office in Montego Bay, St. James, he said that the practice...

Jamaica recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19 as at Wednesday (August 12). These cases bring the island’s tally to 1,065. At the same time, recoveries remained at 753 (70.7% recovery rate). The country is now managing 236 (22.2%) active cases across the island, including six moderately ill patients and one critically ill patient. Sixty-two (62) cases recorded in Jamaica have...

Coordinator of the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC) in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Simone Spence, is underscoring the need for expectant mothers to visit antenatal clinics at the earliest stage of pregnancy in order to ensure the best outcomes for mother and baby. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Dr. Spence,...

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says the youth populations of member countries are integral to the region’s fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19). Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital briefing on Tuesday (August 11), Dr. Etienne noted that many young people across the Americas are already engaged in assisting family members and neighbours and supporting community actions, “to...