Jamaica: Opposition Says Curfew Hours Are Immaterial

The opposition says curfew hours are immaterial if COVID-19 protocols are observed – The conversation around the adjustment of the nightly island-wide curfew hours and adherence to the COVID-19 protocols continues. Opposition spokesperson on health and wellness Dr. Morais Guy says he does not have an issue with a relaxation of the curfew hours as long as the other containment measures are followed and enforced.

Opposition spokesperson on Health and Wellness Dr. Morais Guy says he does not have an issue with a relaxation of the curfew hours as long as the other containment measures are followed and enforced.

Following calls from a number of business operators for the nightly island-wide curfew hours to be relaxed to 11 pm -5 am, opposition spokesperson on health and wellness, Dr. Morais Guy says the time of the curfew is immaterial if there is proper adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. He adds that the challenge that The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the ministry of health would have is with properly monitoring the curfew and the other measures.

The ministry of health has announced that there’s a great chance the COVID-19 cases will rise during Christmas and possibly in January due to the large number of visitors expected/ increased travel and increased activities. 

Dr. Guy says he doesn’t believe the government should go ahead right now and make pronouncements for the entire month of December. But instead, it should observe what happens in the first two weeks. 

Speaking of adherence, Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton has disclosed that stiffer penalties are coming for persons, who breach the COVID-19 rules. 

According to him the office of the attorney general, the Ministries of Justice and Local Government, and rural development are collaborating to implement the new measures, which he said, are expected to be in place before the end of the year.