Tag: Ministry of Health and Wellness

ICYMI in Jamaica, September 22, 2020: A Small Asteroid, Yeng Yengs, The Return of Kanye, and Any Further Questions?

September 23, 2020

The violent thunderstorms of the previous week diminished, but we are in troubled times, bad weather or no. COVID-19 seems to be overwhelming us all. It’s the main topic of every newscast and almost every discussion on Twitter, WhatsApp, everywhere. Meanwhile, a small asteroid will be passing quite close to Earth soon – read more … More ICYMI in Jamaica, September 22, 2020: A Small Asteroid, Yeng Yengs, The Return of Kanye, and Any Further Questions?

ICYMI in Jamaica, September 15, 2020: Sorting Out the Politicians, and More

September 16, 2020

The forces of nature have been flexing their muscles recently. During a heavy afternoon thunderstorm on Wednesday (Kingston went completely dark), two people in St. Elizabeth were killed by a lightning strike. Meanwhile, there are five – yes, five – named storms in the Atlantic basin. At the moment, Paulette, René, Sally, Teddy and Vicky … More ICYMI in Jamaica, September 15, 2020: Sorting Out the Politicians, and More

COVID-19 Update: Jamaica Now Has Community Transmission

September 5, 2020

This afternoon, the day after Election Day, Minister of Health and Wellness informed us at a press briefing that Jamaican has entered a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, called “community transmission.”  I have been wrestling with this term for a little while – at first thinking that it was a highly technical term that … More COVID-19 Update: Jamaica Now Has Community Transmission

ICYMI in Jamaica, September 1, 2020: The COVID Elections – It Is What It Is

September 2, 2020

I wish I could say that it has been an easy-going, free-flowing week. But far from it. There have been challenges, and there are challenges ahead. Everything has been revolving around politics, the debates, while COVID-19 has kept us all in a state of confusion. Yes, I think confusion is the word; every evening, when … More ICYMI in Jamaica, September 1, 2020: The COVID Elections – It Is What It Is

Jamaica’s COVID Election: Protocols for Voting on Election Day

August 31, 2020

In the early hours of this morning, my WhatsApp pinged and there were the Amendments to the Disaster Risk Management (Enforcement Measures), which had just gone out to the media. For all those who live in Jamaica and are registered to vote, please take note of these important protocols, to be observed on Election Day, … More Jamaica’s COVID Election: Protocols for Voting on Election Day

COVID-19 Update for Jamaica: Two More Communities Under Quarantine, Office Closures, and More

August 20, 2020

Early this morning, the Ministry of Health and Wellness informed us that two more communities in the eastern parish of St. Thomas have been placed under quarantine: one is the rather pleasant rural area of Albion, on the way to Yallahs. There is a gated community there, called Albion Estate. The other community is Seaforth, … More COVID-19 Update for Jamaica: Two More Communities Under Quarantine, Office Closures, and More

More Tourists Visiting Jamaica Will Have to Pre-Test for COVID-19

August 17, 2020

We are all worried about the rising numbers of active cases of COVID-19. This evening’s report (Sunday, August 16) show an increase in the number of active cases to 269. We have nine moderately ill and two critically ill patients. A large number of people are in home quarantine (28,209) and 170 in home isolation, … More More Tourists Visiting Jamaica Will Have to Pre-Test for COVID-19

ICYMI in Jamaica, August 16, 2020: Andrew Says Let’s Go, el-Faisal Says Goodbye, and JAMP Says Sorry

August 16, 2020

This week was a momentous one for those who get excited about elections. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced the date in Parliament (not in front of a large crowd of frenzied supporters, as is normally the case): Thursday, September 3. Nomination Day will be next week – Tuesday, August 18. Thankfully, it will not … More ICYMI in Jamaica, August 16, 2020: Andrew Says Let’s Go, el-Faisal Says Goodbye, and JAMP Says Sorry

Jamaica Should Retain its Proactive Stance in Managing COVID-19, Say Private Sector, Civil Society Representatives

August 11, 2020

I tuned in to a press briefing today organized by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), with four speakers: Keith Duncan, President of the PSOJ; Lloyd Distant, President, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; Helene Davis-Whyte, President, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions; and gender advocate Nadeen Spence. All four are members of the COVID-19 Task Force team. The word “proactive” featured heavily … More Jamaica Should Retain its Proactive Stance in Managing COVID-19, Say Private Sector, Civil Society Representatives

ICYMI: August 9, 2020: A Pair of Desert Boots, A SWAT Team, and More Weak Fences

August 10, 2020

Well, the past week has been pretty intense, with politics, crime and COVID-19 vying for the headlines (and sometimes getting mixed up together). Click on the highlights for links to the stories. Your feedback is always welcome! Agriculture: Here’s a good piece in Forbes magazine about the challenges for Jamaica’s small farmers in the face of climate change … More ICYMI: August 9, 2020: A Pair of Desert Boots, A SWAT Team, and More Weak Fences