At least one more year of COVID measures

Jamaicans have been told to brace for at least one more year of tough anti-COVID measures as scientists scramble to find a vaccine to deal with the novel coronavirus.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who yesterday announced that the country had recorded another 83 cases, warned that "We have a long stretch of time" before it is in a position to ditch the containment measures being imposed. Jamaica, as of yesterday, has recorded 1,612 cases of COVID-19, inclusive of 16 deaths.

"The country should prepare itself for close to another year of measures before we can safely say there is a vaccine for distribution," Holness said. "Even if the vaccine were to be developed and approved next year, the process of having a vaccine produced, then shipped here, then distributed, could be many months after the approval."

With COVID cases rising, Holness said that every Jamaican "should be concerned about the surge" in virus cases, but stressed that "there is no need for panic".

He said that the Government had set a marker about when it would act. "We are at that trip wire," Holness said, as he announced a raft of measures to contain the disease.

Stay-at-home order

Among other things, Holness said that some 20 communities in the Corporate Area would be subjected to a stay-at-home order for the next two weeks following the identification of a cluster of COVID cases. The communities are: Duhaney Park, Patrick Gardens, Pembroke Hall, Cooreville, New Haven, Half-Way Tree, Hughenden, Arlene Gardens, Molynes Gardens, State Gardens, Zaidie Gardens, Constant Spring, Barbican, Meadowbrook, Havendale, Delacree Park, Olympic Gardens and Waltham Gardens.

"We will put in place an order which will give the authority to the police to, if you are seen in a public space loitering, not having any reason to be out, you could be required to return home," he said. Holness said the areas would not be under quarantine, and, as such, residents would be allowed to leave home to attend work, purchase food and medical supplies, and conduct businesses.

Holness said that Jamaica has reached the point which requires the tightening of measures. The islandwide curfew would be brought forward to 9 p.m. effective Thursday, until September 30. No funeral service will be held in churches, starting Thursday. Burials would be allowed but no more than 15 persons are allowed.

Holness said that if Jamaica is to avoid an islandwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, everyone would have to follow the protocols.

He said that a lockdown would do severe damage to the economy, which is already struggling for a fallout in the $2 billion tourism industry.

"We will bring this most recent surge under control, as we have done previously, but we don't want to have to go through the cycle all the time, and the only way to avoid the cycle of locking down to control a surge, is if every single Jamaican is faithful and consistent in observing the protocols," he said.