The St. James Health Department says it fully supports the decision of the Municipal Corporation to halt the annual grand market event in the parish due to the threat of COVID-19.
One medical official is warning the public that this Christmas cannot be the same as last year fearing that the lack of adherence to the protocols could overwhelm Public Health facilities.
Parish Manager for the St. James Health Department, Lennox Wallace says it will not be business as usual for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
This follows criticisms over the decision to do away with grand market activities.
He says the decision was informed by health experts due to the worrying number of active COVID-19 cases in the parish.
On Monday, vendors protested after Mayor Leroy Williams announced that the city would adhere to the island wide curfew from 5:30 am to 10 pm daily.
Vendors who sell on church street would usually begin to sell by 5pm. The Mayor has extended that time to 1pm. However, the vendors insist the time is still not enough.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Health listed three communities in St. James- Paradise, Rose Heights and Bogue among the top twenty COVID-19 hot spots in the country.
The Parish Health Manager says the police will be clamping down on events that are in breach of the protocols.
