ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across Jamaica

Hand, foot and mouth outbreak forces school closure

Four suspected cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have been reported in Clarendon.

The Ministry of Education yesterday said that the cases were discovered among students of Chandler's Pen Infant and Primary School. Face-to-face classes at the institution have been suspended.

The disease is a contagious viral infection that is common among young children and is charactered by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.

The Education Ministry said that Chandler's Pen Infant and Primary School will remain closed for the rest of this week. It said that deep cleaning of the building will take place, starting today.

All classes will be facilitated online in order to limit the occurrence of students missing teaching days. Arrangements are also being made for the National Grade Three Diagnostic Examination to be administered as planned. The exams are set to begin on Wednesday.

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West Kingston to get two new housing developments

Thirty-five housing units are set to be constructed in Denham Town in West Kingston.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that the new development, dubbed 'Victoria Villa', will be sited adjacent to St Alban's Primary School. He said that ground at a similar development in another Kingston Western community of Rasta City, will be broken shortly.

"The contracts have been tendered and, hopefully, that process can be completed quickly so that we can start the development for Rasta City," Holness said while speaking at a church service, on Sunday.

The service was held in honour of late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, at the City Mission Pentecostal Church in Denham Town.

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Bybrook Bridge being repaired

The National Works Agency (NWA) has commenced repairs to the deck of the Bybrook Bridge in Portland.

Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the NWA, said work began yesterday and is scheduled to be completed in six weeks. The works are being undertaken at a cost of just under $4 million.

The bridge was closed early this year due to advanced corrosion, which the NWA said compromised its structural integrity making it unsafe for use by motorists and pedestrians.

Shaw said that the damaged sections of the bridge will be disassembled and replaced. The deck will then be paved with asphaltic concrete.

As a result of the works, the bridge will remain inaccessible and all commuters are being advised to exercise extreme caution while the works are being undertaken. There is no alternate route.