83 new COVID-19 cases in Jamaica; tighter curfew hours announced

Jamaica has reported 83 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed infections on the island to 1,612.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement at a virtual press conference at Jamaica House Monday evening. He said 53 persons are now hospitalised.

Holness said, forty-five persons have been isolated in a government facility while 604 persons have been isolated at home and 25 in a government facility.

Some 29,724 persons are supposed to be in quarantine at home, he added.

Moreover, Holness also announced that the time for the island-wide curfew has been brought forward from 11pm to 5am and will now run from  9pm to 5am daily, effective Thursday, August 27.

While, the curfew of 7pm to 5am which is in force in some parishes Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon and St Thomas which have seen a increase in coronavirus cases over the past two weeks, will remain in place until September 2 as previously announced.

As of that date, the curfew for those four parishes will be 9pm to 5am daily until September 30.

The prime minister also announced that restrictions surrounding funerals which were imposed in the four parishes will now apply for the entire island. The restrictions mean only burials are allowed and no more than 15 persons, including the official clergy and grave site workers will be allowed.

Additionally, only the hearse and the vehicles taking the official clergy and mourners will be allowed in the procession.