Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the declaration of the entire island of Jamaica a Disaster Zone as a result of the effects of the global pandemic - the coronavirus (COVID-19). Already eight persons have tested positive for the virus in Jamaica. Prime Minister Holness announced the declaration last evening (March 13) under the powers provided to him under Section 26...

Ministers, pastors and church leaders are being advised to encourage churchgoers to practise social distancing, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) Principal Medical Officer, National Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Karen Webster-Kerr, told JIS News that pastors should inform their congregation about the need to practise social distancing, which keeps people from interacting closely or frequently enough...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says access to the island’s 16 infirmaries and golden age home is restricted, effective immediately, as part of containment activities related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). A 30-day restriction on receiving new clients into these facilities is also to be implemented. The Minister, who was speaking at a special meeting to discuss...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton, says the Government is taking the necessary steps to contain “community spread” of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), following two confirmed cases via local transmission, early today (March 13). Jamaica now has eight confirmed cases of the virus, with six of those cases being imported. “We anticipate that community spread is evitable,...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says there is an adequate supply of protective equipment in inventory for frontline medical staff. Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to safeguard themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others. “To the extent that there may be cases where persons feel exposed, either because they have...

The Caribbean Poison Information Network (CARPIN) is warning members of the public to desist from mixing household chemicals to create sanitising agents. In an interview with JIS News, Poison Information Coordinator, Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, said it has come to the attention of her office that persons have been mixing cleaning agents in an effort to make them stronger and more effective...

Jamaica has now recorded its 8th case of the coranavirus (COVID-19), joining more than 100 countries which have so far been impacted. We are closely monitoring the developments around the virus and wish to share with you what we are doing to mitigate its spread. Prior to the confirmation of these cases, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, was taking...