Caribzone News Highlights, Feb 11

By Caribzone.com

Jamaica

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says The ministry-led national public education campaign is underway to heighten citizens’ awareness about the novel coronavirus.

Addressing journalists at a media briefing at the Ministry’s offices in New Kingston on February 5, Dr. Tufton said newspaper advertisements have commenced, and there are social media postings on his personal page as well as those of the Ministry and Regional Health Authorities.

So yes, we are engaged, as part of the response [to the coronavirus], in a public education program,” the Minister assured.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton is again encouraging Jamaicans to refrain from actions or expressions that could be viewed as discriminatory towards members of the Chinese community in Jamaica, consequent on the onset of the coronavirus.

A Chinese doctor who tried to warn the public about the Wuhan coronavirus in China, died last week of the disease.

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Jamaica

Minister with responsibility for Education, Youth, and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government is looking to provide the requisite resources to bolster security arrangements at schools in order to safeguard students, teachers, and other stakeholders users.

This follows a rash of incidents on campuses across the country in recent weeks, including the killing of a teacher in Kingston and the assault of a teacher in Montego Bay.

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Trinidad & Tobago

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram said the biggest threat to the twin island republic was influenza.

He noted the country was in the influenza season and with Carnival there tended to be a spike in cases because of close contact of individuals. He added that there is a vaccine and people are being encouraged to take the vaccine before Carnival, as it limit the chance of getting the flu. He said it could help discern what type of respiratory illness is affecting the person.

He was speaking during a media tour of measures to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus at the Caura hospital.

He said the health ministry's decision to go to Cabinet to restrict travel for 14 days of people coming from China, where the coronavirus outbreak originated and is most prevalent, came before the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaration of a public health emergency of international concern.

Asked about the coronavirus reaching Venezuela with its a poor health system, Parasram said the ministry is monitoring the situation. He said if a country becomes endemic (local spread occurring in a vast number of areas just as China), the government would have to consider restrictions for other jurisdictions just as were done with Ebola (in 2014).

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Guyana

The runway capacity of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was tested when an Atlas Air (747-400) N475MC cargo aircraft landed last week with ballot papers from Canada.

The Atlas Air, considered a very large cargo aircraft, was the first aircraft to utilize the newly constructed Apron at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport for Code D and E-sized Aircraft.

A release from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport said that all hands were on deck to ensure a seamless landing and takeoff process. The release said that a Boeing 747-400 at its maximum takeoff weight of 800,000 lbs. would usually require an expansive runway capacity for landing or takeoff and CJIA was able to meet this requirement.

The release reported the management of the airport as saying, “We are very happy that we were able to execute this operation without any major challenges, despite our limitations.”

They added that, “It was a historic experience that has highlighted the efficiency of our services, such as, Ground handling, Air Traffic Control Services and the CJIAC team, among others to collectively demonstrate the importance of teamwork to execute this operation.”

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