Jamaica Reimposes Stricker Curfew Hours as COVID-19 Cases Climb

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 Zhane Squire

August 10, 2021 | Zhane Squire |

The Most Hon. Andrew Holness made the announcement in a virtual press conference on Monday, August 9, 2021 that the curfew hours will be tightened further due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization across the country.

“We are now clearly seeing our third wave. Our focus in crafting the measures that will apply over the next three weeks has been on controlling spread sufficiently to allow us to reopen schools to facilitate structured face-to-face learning in September. Observing the necessary precautions outlined by the government, taking personal responsibility for our health through hygienic practices, and importantly taking the vaccine, is crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.” said the Prime Minister.

We are seeing a sharp increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19 as well as hospitalizations. For July 1-13, we maintained the average of 52 cases per day. For July 14-31, however, the average increased to 135 cases per day. For the first 8 days of August, we have already recorded 1,903 new cases. We are currently averaging 238 cases per day, which is nearly 5 times the daily number of cases up to July 13.

Our reproductive rate (Ro) which represents the average number of additional persons infected by one infected person, remains unacceptably high at 1.3.

Effective Wednesday, August 11, the curfew hours will be adjusted as follows to counter the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus:

On Mondays to Fridays, the curfew hours will be from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning.
On Saturdays, the curfew hours will be from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Place of worship will be restricted to having no more than 50 persons in physical attendance including clergy and support personnel. This number is still subject to the physical distancing rules. No crusades, conferences or conventions will be permitted.
Night clubs and certain places of amusement such as clubs and discotheques, are to be closed.
No small or large events for example concerts, parties, tailgate parties, round robins will be permitted.
For Annual & Extraordinary General Meetings of Entities, the maximum number of persons permitted to attend physically is 50.
For public entity events such as handing-overs, launches, ground-breakings, opening ceremonies, no more than 30 persons are permitted to attend physically.
The limit of 30 persons present remains in place for funeral services and burials. This includes mourners as well as clergy and any support personnel.
Burials can be done only on Mondays to Fridays, during the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and the time for conducting the burial continues to be limited to 30 minutes.
Travel protocols remain the same. All persons are therefore required to present a negative test within 3 days prior to their travel date.
No more than 50 persons will be permitted to physically attend a wedding.
Gyms, restaurants, zoos, parks and bars are to operate at a maximum of 50% of their capacity. Capacity is determined based on one person for every 40 square feet of useable floor space or area.
Beaches which are not under management or control are to be closed. The beaches that remain open will operate under the existing protocols and subject to tighter operating hours as follows: •Mondays to Saturdays – 6 am to 4 pm •Sundays – 6 am to 1 pm
Rivers will be restricted to be used only for domestic purposes and for river rafting in accordance with the established protocols. The operating hours will be the same as for beaches.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the revised strategy of the government is to now “gradually ease in” the tighter measures.

“For various reasons, we have analyzed how we have implemented measures in the past and have heard the concerns, criticisms and suggestions of our stakeholders who have said that the implementation of tighter measures steeply sometimes causes congestion and panic, Gradually adjusting the curfew hours has provided persons with enough notice to enable them to rearrange their business hours, stock purchase items, schedule appointments and make other adjustments in preparation for the changes.” The Prime Minister also warned, however, that while the government has not yet implemented a “no movement day”, it is possible.”

“In fact, no movement days, if the numbers do not show signs of improving, will probably come two weeks from now. So we are gradually easing in tighter measures so that people can prepare and have enough time to adjust their scheduling and so forth.”

Source Office of the Prime Minister