PM Announces Stiffer COVID-19 Measures For Westmoreland

Stiffer COVID-19 measures for Westmoreland – Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday, December 15, announced tighter restrictions for Westmoreland as COVID-19 cases in the parish continue to surge.  The parish’s positivity rate is now 32 percent, this means that one in every three people tested for the virus tested positive, tripling the national positivity rate.

The coronavirus, COVID-19 has spread to more than 80 percent of the communities in Westmoreland, which the Prime Minister describes as a grave danger. He has announced new safety measures for the parish.

Grand market activities have also been canceled in  Westmoreland. Holness says if the situation worsens the government is prepared to take stringent action. Holness says the spike in cases in the Western end of the island is causing significant strain on public health facilities

According to Holness, the ongoing spike is already burdening the public health facilities in western Jamaica. The four hospitals which serve western Jamaica: Savanna La Mar Public General Hospital, Cornwall Regional, Falmouth, and Noel Holmes are all at 80 to 90% capacity.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister says he will be taking the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to the Jamaica vaccine.