A significant number of the confirmed COVID-19 cases on the island are in St. Catherine. The Mayor, Norman Scott is alarmed at the rapidly increasing rate of new cases.
In an interview with CVM Live Scott said, “As Chairman of the Board of Health for the parish of St. Catherine it has become an extremely serious concern and I had to call my counterpart from Portmore for us to look at this situation.”
In April, St.Catherine was placed under lockdown due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Now, it remains under a 7 p.m to 5 a.m curfew order and citizens are hoping that another lockdown will not be enforced.
The man lamented the situation, she said, “We are of the view that public education as it relates to giving advice and sending out town criers needs to be rapidly expanded. More information needs to be given to the public especially in St. Catherine because what we think is happening is people are taking this thing for a joke.”
Scott added that meetings have been held with health officials but what was shared is not enough to put their worries to rest. He believes that there is a need for an increase in COVID-19 testing.
In his remarks the Mayor said, “…when you look at the wider St. Catherine you have health centres in Kitson Town, Bog Walk, Ewarton, Lluidas Vale, Point Hill, Browns Hall, Sligoville, if the government is serious about bringing this under control then you must expand testing in the parish. Testing facilities can’t be concentrated to just the major towns.”
