PM Holness announced earlier today that Jamaica’s current curfew hours will be updated starting Wednesday, May 13th, PM Holness explains that curfew hours will be less as a result of COVID-19 curve being straighten.
On Wednesday the 13th of May, new curfew hours will start from 8 pm to 5 am the next day, this will continue for each day leading up to Sunday the 24th of May 2020, which is labour day eve. Labour day this year will be on the 25th explains Holness.
For the labour day period, there will be a tighter curfew which will begin at 3 pm on Sunday, May 24th to 8 am the next day(Monday), then starts again 3 pm on Monday, to Tuesday, May 26th at 5 am.
Another cycle is expected to begin May 26th whereby curfew will start from 9 pm to 5 am, Holness explains that the government is gradually relaxing curfew times however he expects business owners to use there discretion with regards to getting their workers to and from work on time.
Public transport operators will be given one hour extra in the mornings and in the evenings.
Holness explains that the last early curfew over the Easter period was fruitful in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 hence they will be implementing a similar strategy but “a tighter curfew”.
The PM reminds us that if Jamaican’s don’t act responsible during the relaxing of curfews the country will return to early lock-down.
Churches are expected to resume on Sunday May 17, 2020 but the congregation must be arms-length or 6 feet apart, wearing a mask, churches will also be required to do temperature checks for everyone states Holness.
It is suggested that churches break up their congregation and if possible keep more than one service per Sunday to prevent large gatherings.
Jamaica now has a total of 505 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and unfortunately, 9 persons passed away.
Schools will return in September 2020.
With regards to the re-opening of bars, they will re-open at 11 am starting on the 19th of May, the bars will remain open for 2 weeks during which the re-opening will be assessed.
