More restrictive curfew, other COVID measures imposed in St Thomas

Government has imposed a more restrictive curfew in St Thomas as well as expanded the quarantine for the Church Corner area in the eastern Jamaica parish.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the statement at a press conference on Monday, telling the move was necessary to limit the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the parish.

Effective Tuesday, August 18, the parish of St Thomas will be under curfew for 14 days between the hours of 7 pm and 5 am daily. Presently, the islandwide curfew is from 11 pm to 5 am.

Moreover, the community quarantine that is presently in effect for the Church Corner area in the parish has been expanded for another 14 days and will now end on September 2 instead of August 20, the prime minister said.

The government placed Church Corner and the adjoining communities of Lower Summit and Bamboo River under a 14-day quarantine on August 7, following a jump in cases of the virus in the parish, with 28 positive cases over four days, including 13 from the communities under quarantine.

General, there are approximately 89 cases within the parish, 45 of which are within the quarantine communities.

In addition, more symptomatic persons have been identified, who have been tested and are awaiting results.

Holness said that based on reports from the Ministry of Health and Wellness about the situation in St Thomas, the Government felt that further action was necessary beyond extending the quarantine.

Holness also said that “We're seeing cases popping up generally within the parish of St Thomas even outside of the communities under quarantine. This suggests that the general movement in the parish could cause outbreaks, and of course, people are not following infection prevention and control measures."

“So, the Government has decided that we will increase the curfew hours,” he added.

Additionally, the prime minister informed that there will be no funeral services, civic services, weddings or entertainment activities in the parish for the next 14 days.

Burials will be allowed to take place with a maximum of 15 persons, including the pastoral delegation and burial attendants.

Meanwhile, the community quarantine that is in effect in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, has also been extended for 14 days and will end on September 2.