Holness tightens restrictions as Jamaica's COVID cases swell

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has tightened curfew restrictions after it was announced that Jamaica has now recorded 223 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Effective April 21, 2020, the curfew will start at 6 p.m, and will end at 6 a.m. This will run for 14 days.

This after Jamaica recorded an additional 27 new cases over the last 24 hours.

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Chris Tufton said 26 of the latest cases are linked to the Alorica call centre in Portmore, St Catherine.

Tufton added that a growing number of the cases of severe respiratory infection being treated in hospitals are testing positive for COVID-19. He says this represents the first stages of community spread. 

Holness also announced that educational institutions are to remain closed until May, 31, 2020. Online and remote education will continue online. He added that all ports will be closed until May 31, 2020 with controlled re-entry of Jamaicans, subject to the established protocols.

All BPOs are to be closed for 14 days effective Wednesday, April 22.

 Holness has also made it mandatory for persons to wear masks in public and to stay six feet apart. 

The Prime Minister has also adjusted the shopping hours for the parish of St Catherine. Friday has been added as a shopping day for residents.

There are now 128 persons in isolation and 24 in quarantine in a Government facility.

Twenty-seven (27) persons have recovered and five have died.

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