Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, is again imploring Jamaicans to protect the nation’s high-risk population by taking all precautions to prevent them from contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19). These include the elderly and persons with co-morbid conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, who are more likely to develop more severe illness from COVID-19. “[It is] very important that you...

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says the entity will support member countries to monitor the effectiveness and safety of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine when one is approved. Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital briefing on Wednesday (September 23), Dr. Etienne, who noted that nearly 200 vaccine candidates are being studied, expressed the hope that “one or more...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says that contact tracing remains a critical part of the Ministry’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He said that the process has not ceased amid the community transmission phase of the virus. “Contrary to reports… that contact tracing has ceased, that we no longer do contact tracing, we are...

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says coronavirus (COVID-19) safeguards will remain pivotal to curtailing the spread of the disease, even after an approved vaccine has been identified. Speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital briefing on Wednesday (September 23), Dr. Etienne noted that nearly 200 vaccine candidates are currently being studied, from which “we hope that one or...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the islandwide curfew the Government has implemented as one of the measures to manage the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), will be extended until Wednesday (October 7). “The islandwide curfew time will remain at 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.,” Mr. Holness advised, while addressing a digital press conference on Tuesday (September 22)....

The stay-at-home order for persons 70 years and older remains in place, but they are allowed to leave once per day for food, medicine, exercise and other necessities of life. This restriction forms part of the Government’s efforts to control community spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to protect the most vulnerable from the virus. “Given the high vulnerability of...

The 15-person limit on public gatherings will remain in place until Tuesday, October 6 as the Government continues its efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which is now in the community transmission phase. This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who said the number of persons allowed to gather may be further reduced,...