Covid-19

Did you have an encounter with the novel coronavirus? Veteran journalist Desmond Allen, who got the virus but got over it, invites you to share your experiences with him and encourage others to face this dreaded enemy.

Over 25,000 vaccinated in islandwide blitz so far, ministry officials say 8:40 pm
OFFICIALS in the Ministry of Health and Wellness yesterday expressed confidence that at least half of the number of Jamaicans targeted for the islandwide four-day vaccination blitz had been inoculated over the weekend.

American Friends of Jamaica inoculation drive targets 8,000 7:00 pm
HOPEWELL, Hanover — Over 8,000 individuals are being targeted to benefit from a COVID-19 vaccination programme being staged by American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) at Hopewell Sports Centre football field in Hanover,...

'Don't procrastinate, vaccinate'

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Tourism officials in western Jamaica are imploring workers in the sector to get vaccinated in the Government's COVID-19 inoculation programme as a strong rebound in the sector is expected.

Brazil now has more young than old COVID patients in ICUs

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — The number of COVID-19 patients under 40 in intensive care in Brazil surpassed older groups last month, a researcher said yesterday, amid a deadly surge driven partly by a new coronavirus variant.

COVID capers

Niece wants answers after aunt dies at Spanish Town Hospital

TASHAUNA Wallace is demanding information surrounding the death of her aunt, Merlene Wallace-Sinclair, at Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine.

Health official: Congestion, COVID-19 breaches blatant in Manchester

MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Chief Public Health Inspector for Manchester Charmaine Palmer-Cross says congestion in town centres in Manchester, in anticipation of weekend lockdown measures, resulted in blatant breaches of COVID-19 protocols.

Health-care workers call for therapy after COVID-19

Various players in public health have expressed that all health-care workers will need therapy post-COVID-19.

No data yet on changing COVID vaccines between doses — WHO

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated Friday that there was “no adequate data” on switching COVID-19 vaccines between doses, after France said under-55s who received an AstraZeneca first jab should get their second from a different...

South African COVID variant better at bypassing Pfizer/BioNTech jab – Israeli study

JERUSALEM (AFP)— The South African coronavirus variant is better at "breaking through" the defences of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine than other forms of the virus, Israeli experts said Sunday.

Over 12,000 received vaccine on first day of blitz

KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Ministry of Health and Wellness says more than 12,000 people received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine yesterday on the first day of the ministry islandwide vaccination blitz.

Low turnout at Port Antonio High School in Portland vaccine blitz

PORTLAND, Jamaica — Portland had 231 appointments on the first day for the Portland vaccination blitz with just about seventy volunteers, as operations went smoothly at the Port Antonio High School on Saturday.

Hotel workers largest take-up of vaccine in St James

ST JAMES, Jamaica— The tourism sector accounted for the largest take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine during yesterday's St James leg of the Ministry of Health and Wellness' vaccination blitz.

COVID-19: Here's what you need to know today

KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 135.3 million coronavirus infections have been confirmed worldwide, with over 2.9 million people across 196 countries and territories having died. Majority of those infected have recovered.

Jamaica records 381 new COVID cases, 3 deaths

KINGSTON, Jamaica— The deaths of three people from Kingston and St Andrew yesterday has brought Jamaica's COVID-19 death toll to 672.The country recorded 381 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 42,500.

High uptake of COVID vaccine in western parishes except Hanover

ST JAMES, Jamaica— The Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is reporting a high uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine yesterday except for one of four parishes within the region.The Western Region comprises the parishes of Hanover, St James, Trelawny and Westmoreland.

Lukewarm turn-out on first day of vaccination blitz in Clarendon

CLARENDON, Jamaica— The vaccination drive in Clarendon fell short of its expected target of 1,000 people on the first of its four- day vaccination blitz exercise.