Mandatory testing of persons arriving in Jamaica has been stopped.

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacqueline Bissessor Mc Kenzie says there are reasons for changing the policy.

The CMO says there are not enough human resources to carry out the daily testing of persons coming into the country and there are challenges to secure testing supplies.

She says in the early stages of testing those arriving at the airports, very few of the positive cases showed symptoms of COVID-19.

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says he has heard the call for private labs to test for the virus and ease the backlog.

With the policy change those who arrived in the country recently and those who are coming in are being advised to remain at home for the 14-day quarantine period.

The authorities are advising that if they do develop symptoms they should get help.