Plug pulled on entertainment again

After being granted a lifeline for 39 days, the entertainment sector is again in lockdown as the Government moves to slow the spread of COVID-19, which is threatening to overwhelm the country's health sector.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the pulling of the plug during a COVID-19 press conference yesterday. It was among a series of measures that have been put in place to help the country navigate the third wave of the virus, while facilitating the possible reopening of schools for structured face-to-face learning in September.

"As it stands now, this goal is severely challenged. We are still hopeful that we would be able to have some form of reopening. We had targeted mid-September, but it really depends on what we as Jamaicans do over the next two to three weeks," Holness said yesterday.

The entertainment sector was shut down last March after Jamaica recorded its first few cases of the novel coronavirus. It then reopened under strict guidelines on July 21, but shut down one month later as the Government branded entertainment fertile ground for the spread of the highly contagious virus. Following persistent cries, the Government again opened the sector on July 1, only to shut it down 39 days later.

"No small or large events, for example concert, parties, tailgate parties, round robins will be permitted," Holness said.

"Events will be strictly prohibited. No permits will be given for any event and all events that are kept illegally will be closed by the police. I met with the Commissioner of Police last night (Sunday) for three hours going through a variety of things and one of them is the strict enforcement of these measures," the prime minister added.

First large event

The shutdown of the entertainment sector comes a day after the anticipated Dream Weekend came to an end in Negril. The event, which took place from August 5 to 9, was the first large event permitted by the Government.

Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie said based on the monitoring of events over the holiday period, the average rate of COVID-19 measures compliance at events was at 59. 3 per cent.

"The team went out and visited certain events across the country, including Dream Weekend and ... based on the level of compliance that was observed at major events across the country over the last couple of days, the average rate of compliance is 59.3 [per cent], which is considered to be fair," McKenzie said.

He also said that the monitoring teams found low to no compliance as it relates to mask-wearing by party goers.

"I must say that these events that were held over the last two weeks were monitored and we are using the findings of these evaluations to ensure that we tighten the system, if and when the measures are lifted," McKenzie said.