Caribzone New Highlights

Compiled by Caribzone.com

International

Fearful of more visa sanctions at this time, the government of Jamaica caved in to pressure from the Trump Administration to accept deportees from the USA, even as its borders remain closed to prevent the spread of the COVID19 pandemic. The move by Trump comes at a time when dozens of countries, including Jamaica, have closed their borders to incoming travel as they seek to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2. The Jamaican Government imposed a 14-day ban on inbound passenger traffic, but outgoing passengers are allowed to leave. Two-way cargo movement is also facilitated.

During a conference call on Thursday afternoon, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the USA, Audrey Marks said that help is on the way for scores of Jamaicans stranded across the USA. She has opened a registry at the Embassy to track those persons whose visas will expire due to the virus outbreak. Persons so affected should call, toll-free, 1-877.226.6879.

In the US, some states have been granting early release to certain categories of prisoners because of COVID-19. So, too, has US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for similar migrants in detention facilities. Trump, in his new the directive, argues that countries that deny or unreasonably delay accepting their citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents from the US during the ongoing pandemic caused by the coronavirus create unacceptable public-health risks for Americans.

He said the US must be able to repatriate foreign nationals who violate the country’s laws. Under the directive, the Secretary of homeland security is to notify the secretary of state if a country refuses to accept, or unreasonably delays, receiving its citizens and if that action impedes the operations of the Department of Homeland Security to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Concerning Jamaica, ICE, in its 2018 Enforcement and Removal Operations Report indicated that it removed 792 Jamaicans that year. In 2017, the figure was 782, with 787 Jamaicans being removed in 2016, according to ICE. In general, hundreds of Jamaicans are typically deported from the United States per annum, with the majority being removed due to overstaying and illegal entry or re-entry.

--00—

National

Meanwhile, The United States (US) Embassy in Kingston is seeking to allay fears that 62 Jamaicans scheduled to be deported from the USA on April 21, could add to Jamaica's woes in dealing with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to the embassy, while the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues its removal operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the health, safety and well-being of detainees in ICE custody are among the US Government's highest priorities.

It should be noted that the United States has taken, and continues to take, important steps to safeguard the health and safety of those in its custody, including during removal operations. As such, ICE does not remove aliens who are not fit for travel, including any detainee confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19, according to a release from the Embassy

--00—

Cuba

The director of research at the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Dr Gerardo Guillen, says a clinical trial is now being held for a vaccine aimed at activating the immune system to combat COVID-19.

Speaking during a recent television interview, Guillen said that the drug, called CIGB 2020, is undergoing trials at the Luis Diaz Naval Hospital in Havana, with volunteer patients suspected of being carriers of the disease.

He said the drug is nasally and sublingually administered to strengthen these areas, and encouraging results have already been observed regarding the activation of the innate immune system, which is very important to successfully combat the disease.

He added that CIGB 2020 is a drug that is inserted, along with another Cuban vaccine developed by Finlay Institute, in a field of research that has been much-debated in contemporary science that is the development of specific vaccines to stimulate innate immunity, which is powered by the new coronavirus.

Meanwhile, up to last Tuesday, there were 766 positive COVID-19 cases across the island. According to the Ministry of Public Health, 599 out of those 766 patients are in stable condition. To date, there have been 21 deaths.

--00—

Sports

The 49th edition of the Carifta Games has now been pushed back to 2021, and will be hosted by Bermuda, from April 2-5.

Guyana, which was set to host the 50th edition of the region's premier junior athletics showpiece next year, has been invited to prepare for 2022.

The the decision to postpone the Games to next year was made after talks were held between Bermuda National Athletics Association and the Carifta local organizing the committee, as well as the Bermuda Government and all of the Caribbean Carifta countries.

Sports Minister Lovitta Foggo said: “The Ministry of Labour, Community Affairs and Sport supports the decision to postpone the Carifta Games until 2021. We continue to adhere to the guidelines of the global and local health experts and professionals and will continue to put the health, safety, and well-being of our young people as the highest priority

--00—

Brazil

Eleven people died in Manaus, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, during a study conducted with high doses of the drug chloroquine being promoted by United States President Donald Trump as an antidote for the COVID-19 virus.

Eighty-one patients participated in the research, 41 of whom received a high dose of chloroquine.

After three days of treatment, those who received the highest dose of chloroquine began to have heart arrhythmias. 

On the sixth day of treatment, 11 of them died, leading the group of researchers to abandon the investigation.

--00—

National

Experts tracking the US unemployment situation says April could bring even more bad news.

The US unemployment rate is in the middle of a historic rise, and experts worry that the rest of April could bring even worse news.

New jobless numbers reveal an additional 5.2 million workers filed for first-time unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total number of first-time jobless claims to 22 million over the last month. That's about 13.5% of the labor force.

Just a few months ago, in February, the unemployment rate was at a historic low of 3.5%, but economists now worry the figure could rise to 15% by this month's end, which would be a new post-World War II high.

They expect layoffs to move from service jobs to white-collar jobs as more companies report losses from lower demand. 

--00—

Jamaica

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says instructions have been given to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to rapidly expand testing for COVID-19, on the island.

“This is why they have rolled out the [mobile units]. They are going to be increasing the number of tests done,” Mr. Holness said in a statement to the House of Representatives on Wednesday (April 15).

The Prime Minister noted that during the early phase of the epidemic, tests were conducted on the cases that were presented and persons who came into contact with those individuals.

He noted, however, that as the country moves into a new phase of the outbreak there will be the need to increase testing.

The Prime Minister told the House that the methodology for testing deployed by the Ministry accurately captures and reflects the true data as it relates to persons who have the COVID-19 disease.

The government’s effort to control the spread of the virus was challenged last weekend when an attempt to lock down sections of St. Catherine, resulted in scores of individuals fleeing to other parishes.

Some 80 persons at a call center in the Portmore municipality reportedly tested positive for the virus. To date, some 173 persons have tested positive, with five deaths on the island.

--00—