GENEVA, Switzerland – As the discovery of a new coronavirus variant named Omicron has triggered alarm in the Caribbean and globally, the United Nations health agency has labeled it “a variant of concern.”

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has urged Trinidad and Tobago citizens to “avoid a funeral for Christmas” as the country recorded increased cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) including a record 31 deaths on Thursday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health and Wellness is to spend an estimated J$1.3 billion (US$8.3 million) towards the digital transformation of the health sector, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has said.

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – Health City Cayman Islands, a private health facility, recently announced that it has acquired a supply of Ronapreve, a monoclonal antibody treatment that can help COVID-19 patients recover faster and avoid hospitalization, and death. 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana government Monday said that Venezuelan migrants can access medical services following weekend media reports showing the migrants, who at apparently had entered the country through the Port of Kaituma, east of here, in poor health and in need of food.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana is open to the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 pill Paxlovid, once it receives approval, and private sector pharmaceutical companies could possibly manufacture it here.

BELMOPAN, Belize – The Belize government says teachers will be exempted from a policy that public officers must show proof that they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by December 15 or face the risk of being marked absent from work and subject to disciplinary action.

BELMOPAN, Belize – The government of Belize has defended its decision to implement a policy that public officers must show proof that they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by December 15 or face the risk of being marked absent from work and subject to disciplinary action.

BELMOPAN, Belize – Public officers in Belize have until December 15 to show proof that they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or face the risk of being marked absent from work and subject to disciplinary action.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica has received another 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, half of which was donated by the Chinese government.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched Pahola, the world’s first digital health worker to specialize in alcohol and health, in an effort to help countries in the region reduce increasing rates of harmful drinking. 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana government Monday said it has fully vaccinated more than half of the country’s adult population against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the country registered more deaths and infections linked to the virus since March last year.