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The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it has made a policy decision to offer a modified process for CSEC and CAPE examinations. Further, it wants to push back the exams from the usual May/ June to July. But, it says it will be guided by national protocols across the region. Several Caribbean countries have closed schools as they seek to limit the spread of the coronavirius. Here is how CXC exams will be administered: * Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments) * School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates * Award final grades based on the moderated SBAs and multiple choice papers. The following are exceptions to the aforementioned process where candidates will be required to complete additional components: • Modern Languages (Spanish, French, and Portuguese)  * Human and Social Biology • Visual Arts CXC says its strategy will employ e-testing  (online and offline) in order to reduce the a

Another day of panic and confusion in Corporate Area BY RACQUEL PORTER Thursday, March 12, 2020 A day after the first imported case of the novel coronavirus was announced, the Corporate Area was abuzz as scores of people sought to get items that they believe will protect them from being infected. Some shoppers, fearful of the spread of the virus, were on a quest yesterday to secure face masks, sanitisers, and gloves.  Iyah Vybz   When the  Jamaica Observer  visited downtown Kingston yesterday morning a number of wholesalers were seen doing brisk business as Jamaicans crammed into wholesales to get their hands on the items they believe will prevent the spread. On Princess Street, many desperate shoppers shouted out orders at overwhelmed attendants to attain varied quantities of supplies for their homes, offices, as well as for retail purposes. “Beg yuh one fi di basic school,” a shopper shouted as her voice competed with the chorus of others. “Thelma, please sell mi one deh,

J Wray & Nephew suspends operations after contractor quarantined Wednesday, March 11, 2020 ‌ KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Jamaica, J Wray & Nephew Limited has confirmed that a contractor based at its Spanish Town Road operations was in close contact with 'patient zero', and as such operations have been suspended at its 234 Spanish Town Road facility in Kingston. “The contractor has since been quarantined for testing and monitoring by the Ministry of Health,” J Wray and Nephew said in a news release. “We are in ongoing dialogue with Government officials to assess and track the situation.” The company said suspension of operations will be pending the results of the contractor's test. “We will keep our stakeholders and the public updated accordingly. J Wray & Nephew Limited has also activated its 'Smart Working Policy'. As a result, all staff members who are able to work remotely have been asked

People who came in contact with escapee won't be quarantined Tuesday, March 10, 2020 ‌ KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, says there is no need to quarantine people who may have come into contact with a St Mary man, Kemar Bailey, who was recaptured this morning after he escaped from quarantine last evening. Dr Bisasor McKenzie explained that quarantine would only have been necessary if the man had shown symptoms of COVID-19, which would make him contagious. Her comments came during this morning's Ministry of Health media breakfast on COVID-19 preparations. She added that under the ministry's Quarantine Act, people can face penalties for breaking quarantine, but there was no need in this case. Bailey arrived in the island on Saturday, March 7 and was placed at the quarantine centre in Kingston.  He asked, and was allowed to retrieve a bag with personal items from someone at the gate of the facility

All of Italy is in lockdown as coronavirus cases rise By Emma Reynolds and Rob Picheta, CNN Updated 5:53 PM EDT, Mon March 09, 2020   (CNN) Italy has been put under a dramatic total lockdown, as the coronavirus spreads in the country. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that he is extending restrictions already in place in the north. "All the measure of the red zones are now extended to all of the national territory," Conte said at a press conference on Monday evening, also announcing a ban on all public events. The Prime Minister said the move was taken in order to protect the population, and especially the most fragile individuals. His announcement came at the end of a chaotic day that saw prison riots across the country. Smoke billows from a rooftop of the Regina Coeli prison in central Rome on Monday. Ninety-seven people have died of the novel coronavirus since Sunday in Italy, bringing its total number of deaths to 463. The country has 9,172 cases so far, the most of