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KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 11, 2020 (CMC) – A local company has taken preventative measures, following the confirmation of the first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
J. Wray & Nephew, a distiller and bottler of rum, in a statement, today, said that it has confirmed that a contractor, based at the company’s Spanish Town Road operations in the Corporate Area, was in close contact with ‘patient zero’.
“The contractor has since been quarantined for testing and monitoring by the Ministry of Health. We are in on-going dialogue with government officials to assess and track the situation.
“In light of these developments, we have decided to immediately suspend operations at our 234 Spanish Town Road facility in Kingston, as a precautionary measure, pending the results of the contractor’s test. We will keep our stakeholders and the public updated, accordingly,” the statement stated.
The company says it has also activated its ‘Smart Working Policy’: “As a result, all staff members, who are able to work remotely, have been asked to do so. The activation of the Smart Working Policy is another precautionary measure, intended to safeguard the welfare of our employees, our customers and the wider community.”
The company has sought to assure the public of its strict adherence to stringent, international manufacturing and quality standards, “which means that our products can be consumed, safely. To our valued customers, we urge you to keep safe, healthy and to continue to enjoy our brands”.
