News Briefs

Clarendon teen who fled home quarantine found

A Clarendon teen who had run away from home quarantine has been located by the Clarendon Health Department.

On Wednesday, the police had indicated that the 17-year-old, who is of a Belle Plain address in the mid-island parish, was within the high-risk period and appealed to persons not to give her shelter. They also appealed for the public's assistance in locating her.

It was not disclosed when she fled home quarantine, but persons are usually quarantined for 14 days under the coronavirus protocols.

It is unclear whether charges will be laid against her.

COVID-19 throws off plans for STATIN surveys

Data on Jamaica’s labour force for April will not be available due to the cancellation of collection activities by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) in light of COVID-19.

The exercise to ascertain the number of employed and unemployed Jamaicans and the sectors to which they belong was scheduled to run for six weeks, commencing April 1.

STATIN has since decided to cancel the survey in an effort to minimise the risks to staff and the households with which they would have to interact.

The agency has also announced the postponement of data-collection exercises for the 2020 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, which was scheduled for June.

PSOJ's COVID-19 Response Fund raises $40m

Private and corporate donors have committed more than $40 million over the past two weeks to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's (PSOJ) COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund.

Encouraging other Jamaicans here and overseas to contribute, PSOJ President Keith Duncan said, “We’re pleased with the support we have received so far and thank the donors for their proactive response and contribution to helping us to get closer to achieving our overall target.”

The fund, which is aiming to raise $250 million, will seek to tackle food insecurity and boost health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A key PSOJ partner, the Council of Voluntary Social Services, will coordinate those efforts.

“We’re all negatively impacted by the spread of the virus,” said Duncan, “but even the smallest donation will help national efforts to minimise the spread of the virus, soften the economic impact, and save the lives of our citizens.”