Residents in Western Jamaica are lauding the Government’s handling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Persons from the parishes of Trelawny, St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover, who spoke to JIS News on March 23, commended the Government on being proactive in its measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and for the frequent dissemination of information about the virus. Following are...

Two weeks after Jamaica’s first imported coronavirus (COVID-19) patient was confirmed, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the disease has made a tremendous impact on the country. Jamaica’s first patient tested positive on March 10. To date, 21 cases have been confirmed by the Government. “The disease has the medical and public health aspects to it, but once...

The Government will be purchasing rapid test kits for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton, said that the kits should arrive in the island within a few weeks. He said that a protocol will be established to enable approved public health facilities to use the kits to test persons for the virus. Dr....

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is ramping up surveillance and testing as the country approaches the final stage of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which is community transmission. “We are now testing all severe, acute respiratory illnesses that are presenting to our hospitals,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie She noted that, initially, “we were testing only...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is imploring private medical practitioners to keep their offices open in order to assist the national effort in combatting the coronavirus (COVID-19). He made the appeal at a press conference at Jamaica House in Kingston on Monday (March 23). Minister Tufton said that the closure of private practices, which treat...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is encouraging individuals and establishments to comply with stipulated safeguards outlined by the Government to curtail further spread of the highly infectious coronavirus (COVID-19) in Jamaica. His appeal comes against the background of two persons being arrested and charged for breaching regulations under the Disaster Risk Management Act. Speaking at a press conference...

The Government is seeking 600 rooms across the four health regions to be used as transitional houses for persons who are recovering from the coronavirus (COVID-19), and is appealing to the public for its assistance in identifying places that can be used. Owners of hotels with available rooms or those that are no longer being used are encouraged to engage...