Covid-19

Omicron keeps world jittery as more information drips out

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

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The novel coronavirus has infected more than 262.2 million people, leaving more than 5.2 million dead across 196 countries and territories.

Gov't approves importation of self-testing kits

The Government has given the nod for importation and use of COVID-19 self-testing kits approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

All primary schools get reopen nod

THE Government has now given all primary schools the go-ahead to return to face-to-face learning, as well as all secondary schools which have a 65 per cent or higher vaccination rate among students.

JN gets close to 600 vaccinated

CLOSE to 600 Jamaicans have now been vaccinated during two immunisation drives organised by the JN Foundation.

WHO urges 'rational' measures against Omicron COVID variant

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization called Tuesday for countries to keep calm and take "rational" measures in response to the new, fast-spreading COVID variant Omicron, which has sparked global panic.

Survey: Pandemic has severely affected Latin America, Caribbean

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries have suffered significantly as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, with at least 50 per cent of households not being able to recover the income levels before the pandemic that has also seriously...

No rush needed to update vaccination cards

THE Ministry of Health and Wellness says unless people are travelling before mid-December there is no need to rush to update their vaccination cards, as it will start rolling out digital vaccination certificates in another two weeks.

Testing critical to counter Omicron spread, says Global Fund

THE Global Fund has said that the accuracy of existing molecular and rapid tests is uncompromised by COVID-19 variant Omicron and is insisting that diagnostic testing to detect the new variant is critical to tracking its spread and putting in place measures to halt...

Wary, weary world slams doors shut, fearing Omicron variant

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — Taking an act-now-ask-questions-later approach, countries around the world slammed their doors shut again to try to keep the new Omicron variant at bay yesterday as more cases of the mutant coronavirus emerged and scientists raced to figure out just how...

Pfizer already working on COVID vaccine targeting Omicron – CEO

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Pfizer has already started working on a version of its COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the new Omicron variant in case the current inoculation is not effective against the latest strain, the US drugmaker's CEO Albert Bourla said...

WHO warns that new virus variant poses 'very high' risk

BRUSSELS (AP) — The World Health Organization says the global risk from the omicron variant of the coronavirus is “very high” based on early evidence, and it could lead to surges with “severe consequences.”

COVID-19 worsens nursing brain drain

A local medical school official has charged that 85 per cent of Jamaica's trained nurses migrate after completing their training and the situation has been made worse by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Health sector shifting focus from COVID-19

MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says the health sector must shift its focus to include other critical areas which have been cast in the shadows due to the attention being given to the country's COVID-19 response.

Keep borders open as we tackle new Corona variant — WHO

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (AFP) — The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa yesterday urged countries to follow the science rather than imposing flight bans in a bid to contain the new Omicron novel coronavirus variant.