Quarantine fears - Vendors worried nearby COVID cases could hurt Coronation Market sales

Vendors at the Coronation Market in downtown Kingston are concerned that with the health authorities carrying out extensive contact tracing in communities nearby, sales could dramatically plummet in the coming days as shoppers avoid the area out of fear of contracting the coronavirus.

They fear that if the area is placed under quarantine, it could cripple them financially as they have been battling slower-than-normal sales since the island recorded its first coronavirus case in March.

Yesterday, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) was in the west Kingston area conducting surveillance work following the recent confirmation of at least five cases in the area. The Gleaner has learnt that the infected persons are contacts of a confirmed case – someone who recently returned from the United States.

With tomorrow being the next major market day, some vendors shared their concerns with The Gleaner yesterday.

“If dem drop quarantine, we can’t come out here and nobody will come,” vendor Michelle Laing said. “They are going to be afraid. We have to be careful because five people can spread to everybody.”

Omari Francis, a market vendor from St Ann, told The Gleaner that he was not overly worried.

“We have hand sanitiser, and thing, so we not really worried. It slow still, and then they will probably lock down the market, too. It depends. We have to just hope for the best. We have to just wear the mask and protect ourselves,” he said.

A shopper, who is a resident of Tivoli Gardens, told The Gleaner that she would be limiting contact with persons outside of her household.

“From market to my yard. As mi reach in, I will bolt my door and lock away from everyone. Di people dem stop wear di mask dem too quick,” she said.

Another vendor was in agreement that the mask-wearing among customers had been reduced significantly.

“The same breeze weh blow over Tivoli, a it blow over the market here, and people go and come,” the vendor said. “Dem stop wear the mask from last month. Me still wear mine and some of the vendors wear their own still.”

SEHRA says groundwork in the area started on Wednesday as personnel from the Kingston and St Andrew Health Department began a health-education and community-engagement programme.

More than 60 samples have been collected for testing.