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Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton speaking at a meeting with stakeholders in western Jamaica at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James on Friday (March 13). Seated left is Custos Rotulorum for St. James, Bishop, the Hon. Conrad Pitkin.

Gov’t Prepared To Take Action to Prevent COVID-19 Price Gouging

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the Government is prepared to take action to prevent price gouging due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Price gouging refers to vendors taking unfair advantage of consumers during...

Members of the security forces at a check point at Morales Drive in the Seven Miles community of Bull Bay, St. Andrew on Saturday morning (March 14). The Seven and Eight Miles communities have been placed under quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). This follows a Declaration Order by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, designating the entire island a disaster area, under the Disaster Risk Management Act. The decision was taken to quarantine the communities after a number of persons, who are linked to the first individual, who tested positive for the virus (patient zero), started showing symptoms that suggested that they are ill or becoming ill.

PHOTOS: Soldiers At Seven Miles Quarantine Area

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), updates the media on action taken to quarantine the Seven and Eight Miles communities in St. Andrew to halt the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), at a press briefing, on Friday (March 13), at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston. With the Prime Minister are Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton; and Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie.

Gov’t Imposes Travel Restrictions for the UK

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness addressing the media at a press conference at Jamaica House on Thursday (March 12).

Do Not Go To Health Facilities If You Have Symptoms of COVID-19 – PM

Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), addressing a press briefing on Friday (March 13), at the Ministry's offices in New Kingston. Beside him is Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Griffith.

Carnival Postponed Until October

Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, addressing a meeting of the Parish Disaster Committee on Friday (March 13), at the Corporation’s offices in downtown Kingston. At right is Town Clerk, Robert Hill.

6 years ago Coronavirus

Coronation Market to Close Saturday Night for Sanitisation

Coronation Market in downtown Kingston will be closed for cleaning and sanitation purposes starting 8:00 p.m. Saturday (March 14). The market is slated to reopen for business by Wednesday (March 18). Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, made the disclosure during a meeting of the Parish Disaster Committee on Friday (March 13), at the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal...

6 years ago CoronavirusOffice of the Prime Minister

Jamaica Declared a Disaster Area as COVID-19 Cases Increase and Two Communities Quarantined

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...

6 years ago Coronavirus

Seven And Eight Miles Communities Under Quarantine

The Seven and Eight Miles communities of Bull Bay in St. Andrew have been placed under quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). This follows a Declaration Order by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, designating the entire island a disaster area, under the Disaster Risk Management Act. Following the announcement at a press briefing on Friday...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, addresses the media at a press conference, held at Jamaica House, on Thursday (March 12).

6 years ago CoronavirusFinance & Public Service

TAJ Extends Deadline For Filing Tax Returns

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has extended the deadline for the filing of income tax returns to Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The initial date for the filing was set for March 15. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, made this announcement at a press conference on Thursday (March 12), at Jamaica House. “The tax authority...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange.

6 years ago CoronavirusCultureSport

Ministry Closes Cultural, Sport Facilities in Light of COVID-19

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced the closure of cultural and sport facilities, including museums, galleries, and stadia run by the government. Minister Grange says the closures — with effect from Saturday, 14 March 2020 — are in keeping with the Government’s strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jamaica and...

Principal Medical Officer, National Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Karen Webster-Kerr.

6 years ago CommunityCoronavirus

Churchgoers Should Practise Social Distancing

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 (second left), speaks at a special meeting to discuss the response of the Ministry, agencies and municipal corporations to the coronavirus (COVID-19), on March 13, at the Ministry in Kingston. With the Minister are Director of Health Promotion and Protection, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Simone Spence; and Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford.

6 years ago CommunityCoronavirus

Access To Infirmaries Restricted

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...