Whitfield Town Residents Respond To COVID-19 Protocols

Having been placed on high alert after an outbreak of the COVID-19 infection in the community, the stark realities of Whitfield Town are seemingly preventing some residents from fully practicing the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Joan Green, from the area, was one of the first residents to be tested for COVID-19.

Green who lives beside the Whitfield Town Community Health Centre says she received her results just 24-hours after being swabbed by Health Officials who used rapid testing, and though she did not test positive for the virus, she was told to stay home for two weeks because of her age.

The community was placed under what is being described as an extended curfew on Tuesday, October 6 after the community recorded 23 active cases of the virus.

The curfew will run from 6 pm to 5 am daily for two weeks.

Only essential workers are allowed to enter and exit the community and social gatherings are limited to six people.

When CVM LIVE visited the area yesterday, October 10, there were members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and member of the Jamaica Defence Force present.

Barricades were also erected on some streets but on others, they were  pushed to the side , seemingly to allow for vehicular traffic.

Residents say they are welcoming of the measures but argued that they are being handicapped, as there is no running water.

One resident says, “dem…tek yuh temperature and tell you fi wash your hand but how them a tell we fi wash we hand and no water nuh ina the ghetto.”

On Alexander Road in the community, buckets were lined up at one of the only places in the community that almost always has water- a stand pipe.

Residents from the nearby community in Rose Town which is on the other side of the street also uses the standpipe and they are calling on authorities to address the water issue.

Meanwhile, residents say business appears to be interrupted. Corner shops, bars and food business operators, however, say that the residents have been adhering to the guidelines.

Jamaila Maitland reports for CVM LIVE: