Curfew in Jamaica irks more than a few
Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness. Jamaica
Information Service / Yhomo Hutchinson
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Caribbean Life, April 9-15, 2021 11
In an effort to counter a
third wave of COVID-19 in
Jamaica, the government
imposed a mandatory daily
curfew and complete islandwide
weekend shutdown some
nationals are protesting.
The Disaster Risk Management
Act provided data showing
a surge in hospital admissions
on the island attributed primarily
to 40,000 people infected
with the coronavirus which
already claimed the lives of 607
nationals.
In order to slow the spiral,
the government issued daily
curfews. Since March, nationals
are prohibited from regular
daily activities and a cut-off
time limit from 5 pm to 8 am.
On weekends the demand
for compliance seems more
stringent with “no movement”
restrictions imposed throughout
the two-day period.
Prime Minister, Andrew
Holness vowed to levy fines
against violators, complacent,
unmasked citizens and groups
disobeying the social distancing
mandates.
The first daily curfews began
on March 23 continuing through
the weekend of March 27.
Road scenes from the capital
city of Kingston to the second
city of Montego Bay mirrored
NYC Times Square last April
at the peak of the lock-down
period. Empty parks, streets,
shuttered stores, churches and
business establishment complied
with the enacted laws.
Noticeably absent were stray
animals which usually roam
around city streets.
The busiest business areas
surrounding Sam Sharpe
Square in the second city and
Kingston’s Half-Way-Tree hub
resembled the kind of ghost
town a majority of the population
had never seen or imagined.
Critics of the weekend lockdown
complained that temporary
lockdowns are unreliable
and even useless. Their reasoning
is that a surge might be
inevitable if families are forced
to be confined into small spaces
for extended period of time.
There are some who reject
the curfew initiative and are
proposing a complete, continuous
shutdown they believe
might be more effective.
Complaints were lobbed by
leaders of the religious community,
business owners and
citizens in deference to mask
wearing, social distancing and
lockdowns.
On Good Friday, the latest
figures from the Ministry of
Health and Wellness revealed
424 more COVID-19 cases over
the previous 24 hours. Worst
case scenario was that eight
more casualties were attributed
to the deadly virus.
Chief Medical Officer, Bisasor
McKenzie said the latest data
indicated “possibly, a plateauing
in the number of (COVID-19)
cases” over the previous two
weeks relative to the same period
preceding the curfews.
She stopped short of analyzing
the effectiveness of the curfews
only adding that it was “too
early” to report any trend since
they were imposed.
Once again the streets emptied
last weekend when the
national Easter holiday marked
the end of the Lenten season.
To the dismay of a majority
of Jamaicans who pride themselves
as Christians, they were
forced to abandon the traditional
church visits and spiritual
gatherings.
Revelers who usually anticipate
the Sunday start to Jamaica
Carnival found the curfew
a disruptive process that curtailed
masquerades through the
parishes.
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