Lock it down now, Mr PM! - Entertainers call for islandwide shutdown to curb COVID spread

In just a matter of days the number of coronavirus cases in the island has jumped from 73 to 143. The 'tan a yuh yaad' message being preached by the Government for more than a month has seemingly fallen on deaf ears somewhat, as the spike has catapulted the island into the dreaded peak phase of the deadly virus. With the situation expected to worsen, more local celebrities have been using their social media platforms to appeal to their fellow Jamaicans to stay inside. But knowing all too well that some Jamaicans tend to only take heed when things are out of control, some influencers are calling on the authorities to take drastic action by imposing an islandwide lockdown.

"We had warnings of the mindset of the people of this country. The lockdown time that was initiated by the prime minister over the holiday weekend, we see how it was greeted by a few of the people here in this country. They started to rebel because as Jamaicans sometimes we take on this rebellious mode on the things that are put in place to preserve and sustain us," said producer Cordel 'Skatta' Burrell. "A complete lockdown of the country looks like it's gonna be necessary in the very, very short future, based on how we see this thing escalating but also because of the behaviour of some of the people. It's gonna come down to either dem start to feel baton over them head, some serious jail time or they're gonna see dead bodies falling around them and by that time it's gonna be too late.

"Stay inside. That's what it comes down to. These are critical times. We have to acknowledge it and have an understanding that this is for the greater good," he continued.

Dancehall diva Ce'Cile said that she is ready for a full lockdown.

"If it was a hurricane, we would have no choice. Well, this is worse. We haven't seen nothing yet," she said. "The prime minister has been doing his best. We know he doesn't want to stop people from earning but things have got out of control. Some people are just not listening. So for me, it's OK if the Government chooses to go the extreme."

Earlier this week in a social media post, Ce'Cile expressed disappointment in some public figures who she revealed have been implying there is no reason for people to stay inside.

"I've had people be upset with me when I asked them not to visit me. I would never want to catch this thing nor God forbid, pass it on to someone. And since none a we no test so far, it makes all the sense in the world to stay indoors, keep away from people and certainly don't congregate anywhere," her post read.

Artiste manager and popular promoter Heavy D says he's also not accepting visitors and wouldn't mind a three-week lockdown of the country.

Like Skatta and Ce'Cile, he believes the extreme measure has become necessary if Jamaica is to regain control of the virus.

"We understand the circumstances some people live under in terms of not having access to certain things. But under the circumstances right now, the country really need to go on a lockdown," he said. "The PM say him shut down St Catherine and di people dem gone all bout. A nuh just town dem gone. Dem gone a St Thomas, Portland, all over fi just spread the virus. Wid the rate at how this thing a escalate now, the safest place a yuh yard. We just need fi hear and do the right thing. Tan a yuh yaad!"