The Ministry of Tourism has announced a six-month moratorium on the payment for licences and of fees by entities in the tourism sector. Making the announcement during a digital press conference today (April 17), Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said a total of $9.7 million will be given up for the period ending September 2020. “This would give some level...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton, says the number of ventilators on the island are set to triple, due in part to the number of donations from private entities over the past few weeks. The Minister was addressing journalists at a press conference held recently at the Sandals Inn in Montego Bay, St. James. “We have...

The Ministry of Health & Wellness has been advised that one of its employees assigned to the Head Offices has tested positive for COVID-19. In keeping with its own established protocol for infection prevention and control, the Ministry has decided to suspend operations at the Head Office Buildings in New Kingston on Friday, April 17, 2020. This suspension of operation...

Following extensive debate on the measures in Parliament  late last night and further consultations and review which are still ongoing to finalize the Gazette of the Orders, the Government of Jamaica is indicating: 1. The final Gazette to be published tonight. Media personnel will remain exempted and will be allowed to move about in pursuit of their mandate during the...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) will be undertaking a survey to collate data on citizens’ knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Director General, Carol Coy, says the telephone survey, which is expected to get under way by Monday, April 20, forms part of initiatives being undertaken by a special National Research Agenda for a COVID-19 team...

A passenger in a taxi shows his identification to a police officer at a checkpoint at the Clarendon/St. Catherine border on Friday morning (April 17). Various checkpoints have been established throughout St. Catherine, following Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness’ announcement on April 14 of a lockdown of the parish in a bid to contain the spread of the...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says instructions have been given to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to rapidly expand testing for COVID-19. “This is why they have rolled out the [mobile units]. They are going to be increasing the number of tests done,” Mr. Holness said in a statement to the House of Representatives on Wednesday (April...