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...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, says the four persons who recently died from the coronavirus (COVID-19), including a 37-year-old, all suffered from co-morbid diseases. Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie, who was speaking on August 13 during the weekly virtual COVID Conversations press briefing, said there was neurological disease in one person, diabetes mellitus in two persons, hypertension in one, renal impairment...

Community surveillance continues in the quarantined communities in Clarendon and St. Thomas. As a result of the efforts of the Health Department, 11 new positives were identified today. These new cases bring Jamaica’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases to 1,082. Today, also saw the recoveries increase by seven, bringing that total to 761 patients recovered and released from care (70.3% recovery rate). ...

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean, says all schools are receiving attention for a “safe reopening” in September. Speaking at a virtual forum on August 13, to update stakeholders on the Ministry’s plans to make schools safe against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Dr. McLean said international and local data are being used...