PBCJ NEWS APRIL 3 2020

it's Friday April 3 this is the news on pbc am Simone Absalom Jamaica now has 47 positive cases for the corona virus disease Cove in 19 PB CJ understands that at least three of the six people who tested positive for kovat 19 in corn peace settlement Clarendon are relatives of the 79 year old man who was the first patient to succumb to the disease in the country in release on Thursday the Health Ministry advised of three new positive results of kovat 19 which pushed the confirmed cases to 47 the three latest cases are couple 79 year old woman and 73 year old man with travel history to New York in the United States there's also 32 year old man from Portland with no travel history contacts tracing is being done to ascertain the point of infections Kingston's Andrews Memorial Hospital is to be used as an extension of the Kingston public hospital kph as part of the government's efforts to shore up the public health system to deal with the corona virus pandemic minister of health and wellness dr. Christopher Tufton says the ministry had met with the owners of the hospital and an agreement was reached for it to act as an extension of the kp/h as the public hospital would be needed to deal with Co vid 19 cases the permanent secretary and his team based on discussions we had think have engaged the Andrews management in conversation on the basis that we really need all hands on deck we need to engage all and you know if you're hospital there's role for you as we try to overcome this challenge and I'm happy to announce that coming out of those discussion the Ang's Memorial Hospital will be used based on an agreement as an extension of the Kingston public hospital so as needed patients admitted at kph would also if necessary and based on the appropriate arrangements be housed at Andrews Hospital so we have been able therefore to bring that synergy which is important dr. Tufton made the announcement during digital press conference from the ministry's head office on Wednesday meanwhile permanent secretary in the ministry Dunstan Brian further explained that the agreement will enable kph to treat more kovat 19 cases plan that was that was agreed to with Andrews is that those medical and surgical patients who could be admitted to Andrews as an extension of the admission to kph would be housed or would be accommodated in their facility the country's mobile testing mechanism will start rolling out today April 3 as the Ministry of Health and Wellness ramps up testing for the novel coronavirus kovat 19 portfolio minister dr. Christopher Totten made the announcement during digital press conference on Wednesday the ministry be essentially engaging mobile units which rebranded to indicate their purpose and those units will be deployed in parishes across the country we're gonna begin in the Southeast Regional Health Authority serie and Northeast Regional Health Authority region and there will be protocol assigned to the deployment of those mobile units where persons who have desire to be tested would be subjected to that protocol in terms of an assessment on or triage as would be done in accident and emergency context and if they meet the specific requirements or criteria then they would be samples will be collected by that those units and tests administered and they'll be contacted and given appropriate counseling and guidance the public is reminded that they can go to the office of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica for heart screening and to keep check on their heart health especially in light of kovat nineteen persons who have heart disease and contracted the virus are at greater risk the heart foundation of Jamaica is also offering its usual services including blood pressure diabetes and cardiology tests advanced cardiac testing and cardiac consultations requires an appointment for appointments and information contact the heart foundation of Jamaica the following numbers eight seven six three four forty nine nine eight or eight seven six nine to nine thirty one ninety five or eight seven six nine two six six four nine to the Ministry of Culture gender entertainment and sport is giving support to vulnerable $1.00 and mothers during the kovat nineteen pandemic minister of culture gender entertainment and sport Olivia Grange says about five hundred dollars and mothers and expectant mothers have been affected by the temporary closure of the Women's Center of Jamaica foundation locations across the island in keeping with measures to prevent the spread of kovat 19 and help is on the way for farmers who are having challenges selling their produce amid the Cova 19 pandemic and angry linkages exchange le platform will allow farmers across Jamaica to upload respective produce cultivated and aloe for further purchase the equipment to facilitate this platform was handed over by tourism minister Edmund Bartlett to Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry commerce agriculture and fisheries Floyd green during digital press brief to provide an update on the tourism sector what we have recognized know is that the Alex as we call it is critical because people are unable to leave their homes to go to the regular markets and supermarkets so what we have said to the team and what we've seen Minister is that we know have more orders of just individuals who are logging onto the platform seeing that we have koo kumba that we of cantaloupe melon and making their orders and what we find is that lot of the farmers on the platform's will deliver themselves so the alux platform no is no providing us an outlet for access to this excess produce so say to those who are listening if you're wondering how can you get some of this excess produce that we have go on our green linkages govt dot JM it used to be for big orders but the platform is so configured that you can order evil to Paulo tomato what we find the farmers who are willing to deliver lot of them are are taking those orders the tourism enhancement fund provided the money and LAX platform is bipartite agreement between the ministry of tourism food tourism linkages network and the ministry of industry commerce or the culture and fisheries tsurara the private sector organization of jamaica has launched fund called PS co vid 19 Jamaica response fund the PSO says it will facilitate donations and contributions of cash towards meeting the needs of citizens and mitigating the threats associated with the Koval pandemic the move comes on the heels of member companies of the PS recently joining forces and contributing total of hundred and fifty million dollars to purchase ventilators to outfit hospitals that have been designated by the ministry of health and wellness to handle persons infected with the virus the Jamaican public and wider despair can also contribute using CBS US dollar account at JM MB account number zero zero six zero zero zero one eight one four eight four that's zero zero six zero zero zero one eight one four eight for the weekend is the busiest time in our markets for Jamaicans who want fresh produce however Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie is reminding the public that while you shop all you want practice social distancing at all times saw some pictures coming out of don't don't kick stone those are frightening scenes in time when we are asking people to keep safe distance and can only use this medium to those who are listening to appeal for there has to be special sense of purpose by our Jamaicans who use these facilities airports to help you because end of the day we will not compromise the wider Jamaica to facility persons who are not prepared to he was speaking at digital town-hall meeting held by the ministry on March 31 to discuss operation of the nation's markets isolated not alone that is the message Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered to seniors in his st. Andrew West Central constituency on Thursday last week the government mandated that seniors stay home to reduce their risk of exposure to covert 19 mr. Honus delivered care packages including essential food items and sanitizers in post on social media the Prime Minister stated quote also took the opportunity to assure our seniors that this stay at home order is for their own protection and that we are alone together and quote he urged citizens to continue practicing social distancing stay at home take the precautions outlined by the government and take special care to ensure that our most vulnerable in our communities are looked out for and protected at least 10 persons have been arrested for breaching the kovat 19 curfew which started on Wednesday the police say among the group is 37 year old Dwayne Mitchell of pensive Street Kingston who was seen in viral social media video stating his refusal to comply with the order the police say scores of persons were warned for prosecution and they cooperated the cops are reminding the public that failure to comply may put others at risk of contracting the corona virus and can result in actions taken against non-compliant individual the independent commission of investigations in the come wants in on the list of agencies exempted under the new curfew order the Commission headed by Terrence Williams is empowered under the Indicom act to provide independent oversight to activities of the security forces and as function to attend fatal and non-fatal shooting incidents the Commission says it has written to the minister of national security seeking approval by cabinet as an exempted service or activity under the order but so far they have not had favorable response as businesses close to help prevent transmission of kovat 19 financial concerns and job losses are one of the first human impacts of the virus not knowing how this pandemic will play out also affects or economy or physical well-being and mental well-being despite this fear businesses and communities are being encouraged to have an altruistic response in the face of crisis chief investment officer for capital solutions and serial entrepreneur Adina Heinz has some advice on the opportunities fellow entrepreneurs can capitalize on at this time during this time I'm sure they'll be private equity investors who are looking for opportunities so just like you have persons right now where look at on the stock markets both local and international and saying you know these stocks they have sold off they are buying or they're good buy right now right you will see in private equity investors looking on and saying you know this company is good company don't know year old from now it should it should be do well I'll step in and I'll invest in this company and help it and you know help it to get to the other side and that's why think that this is even though there's crisis there's also opportunity you are at home you're not as active as before the things that you normally don't get to do because they are so busy in the company start doing them start doing your business plans start doing your projections start doing your proposals to be able to go out to an investor because yes the government is one avenue but there's all sort of private equity flows that will no doubt but start in the comma or time to look for opportunities over time we'll have more from this interview in our next newscast despite the kovat pandemic the wheels keep turning in some quarters it's still business as usual let's now join Denise Williams and Gabrielle Thompson for the business report this is Denise Williams with the business report for PBC on Wednesday us-based nonprofit business research group The Conference Board published an analysis of three potential scenarios explaining when the US economy might recover depending on when new coronavirus cases peak in the US and this is very relevant for Jamaica and the Caribbean as the u.s. is our largest trading partner now the most optimistic scenario is called the may reboot which is achievable if new u.s. coronavirus cases peak by mid-april enabling widespread economic activity to resume in May now here's how that would affect that US economy first the economic side of the crisis would only last six weeks leaving many industries relatively unscathed although industries like entertainment recreation and transportation would still take large hits unemployment would rise to 8% by the third quarter an overall consumer spending would decline 2.5 percent this year compared to 2019 now the report projects for the US strong declines in investments exports inventories until the second half of the year in this may reboot scenario now the second scenario called the summertime's v-shape would likely occur its new u.s. coronavirus cases peak in May leading to economic restart by July which would then impact retail trade wholesale trade manufacturing would join the list of the hardest-hit industries the economy would contract by massive 35.6% during the second quarter leading to an unemployment rate of fifteen percent by the third quarter recovery though would be sharper and this is the good news because then there would be increased summer activity after the virus Peaks now the third scenario which is the fall recovery assumes that the u.s. successfully flattens the curve of new coronavirus cases and control the rise of new cases and ease the strain on the country's healthcare system this would likely reduce the total number of fatalities report notes and would be the hardest on the US economy as reboot wouldn't be feasible until September as result of that finance insurance and professional business services would join the list of hardest hit industries consumer spending would drop by 38% in the second quarter only recovering by 18.5 percent in the fourth quarter investment and exports would follow similar patterns the economy would contract by 6% this year compared to 2019 the largest such decline since 1946 by comparison in 2009 the economy only shrunk 3% compared to the year prior and the kv8 these numbers assume that the coronavirus won't return in full force during the fall now in even the most optimistic projection economic activity across the United States will be down this year the latter two scenarios that's the v-shape recovery in July or the fall reboot in September are the ones most likely according to The Conference Board now we in the Caribbean will more likely follow whatever trajectory the u.s. follows because as we all know we're highly dependent on the US for support whether it's remittances or tourism so knowing these tough scenarios doesn't make your job as business person any easier but it is easier to know what might be the case so that you can plan and you're not operating in the dark this is Denise Williams for the business report on pbc in Thursday's trading session the JSE combined index advanced by three thousand four hundred and twenty nine points to close at under four hundred thousand units overall market activity resulted from trading in seventy nine stocks of which forty nine advanced eighteen declined and twelve traded firm the junior market index advanced by sixty nine points to close that under 3,000 units Sox advanced for 1834 investments bra Japan's Jamaica and blue par group stops declined for AMG packaging and paper Marita investments and Caribbean Insurance Brokers trading firm were 138 students living CAC two thousand nine and nine point five percent and Carreras limited trans Jamaican Highway Limited was the volume leader with ten point three million units followed by mail PAC Group Limited with eight point three million units and Wigton wind farm limited ordinary shares with three point three million units now for the foreign exchange the US dollar on Thursday April two ended trading at one hundred and thirty six dollars forty three cents the Canadian dollar sold for an average ninety six dollars 90 cents the pound sterling traded for 170 dollars sixty-seven cents and the Euro ended trading at one hundred and fifty $1.30 in regional news vana has implemented new measures to fight the spread of kovat 19 president David Granger made the announcement on Thursday in for Hobbes an Archon has the details the government in order to strengthen containment measures we closed public gathering at places of entertainment including bars clubs gymnasiums nightclubs restaurants and swimming pools between the hours of 18 hours and zero six hours that is to say between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. with effect from midnight that is 23:59 hours on Friday 3rd of April 2020 president David Granger the head of state noted that there will soon be an announcement of additional restrictions designed to protect the well-being of the public the president called for Guyanese to take decisive action by adhering to the advisories issued by both the Public Health Ministry and national covet 19 taskforce guyanese iottery the need for all citizens in all parts of the country to adopt the many advisories that have been issued by the Ministry of Public Health and the National task force including avoidance of living room avoidance of gatherings of more than 5 persons avoidance of visiting sick persons avoidance of touching other persons avoidance of touching parts of your own faces and washing hands frequently and thoroughly in water president Granger also reminded Guyanese of some of the decisions taken thus far to help safeguard against the spread of kovat 19 these include but are not limited to the suspended operations of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene Korea International Airport closure of seaports to international vessels relaxation of that on medical supplies that are linked to Cove in nineteen testing postponement of the grades six examinations and closure to the University of Guyana campuses the Ministry of Public Health together with the Civil Affairs Commission has been engaged in mobilizing medical staff and marshaling resources and equipment needed to fight the disease more decision stemming from the National covin 19 taskforce are expected to be implemented shortly there are four new confirmed cases in Trinidad and Tobago which now brings total to 94 we get more in this TTT News report the Ministry of Health says total of 638 samples have been sent to the Caribbean public health agency for Corbett 19 testing of the four additional persons having tested positive for Cuba 19 since this morning two were in contact with persons who tested positive for Cova 19 one has history of recent travel and the other confirmed case is still being investigated to date five kovat 19 patients have died with one patient discharged the Ministry of Health continues to remind members of the public to protect yourself by washing your hands often with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol your soap and water are not available and remember to practice social distancing maintain at least two meters or approximately six feet distance between yourself and others especially anyone who is coughing or showing signs of flu-like illness in sports we kick off with football as regards goalkeeper Nicole McClure has become the first national player to confirm she tested positive for kovat 19 however McClure who is with her mother in the United States says she has been fully recovered for close to two weeks the 30 year old played to penalty kicks in the CONCACAF final round qualifiers to help the regulars advance to last summer's FIFA Women's World Cup McClure says her mother who works in the health system tested tested positive after feeling ill as well McClure made her senior debut for Jamaica in 2009 and that the news on the production staff here at PB CJ we urge you to keep safe wash your hands often and maintain social distancing you