Rae Town, Cornwall Courts under two-week COVID curfew

The Office of the Prime Minister has announced special curfews for Rae Town, Kingston and Cornwall Courts, St James amid an increase in COVID cases in the communities.

The curfews take effect Friday at 6 p.m., Friday, October 23 and will run until 5 a.m. on November 6, 2020. 

What does this mean

• During the hours of the curfew, only essential workers with identification will be allowed to enter or exit.
   
• Gathering limit will be no more than six persons in any public place.
   
• ​All existing restrictions such as mask-wearing and physical distancing will be strictly enforced.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said the increase in COVID-19 cases, is of great concern to the health authorities.

"This special measure is to restrict movement of persons to slow or prevent new exposures and hence new infections," said a spokesperson in the statement.

The OPM said there was concern for the high population density of the two areas identified and the high vulnerability of persons within the areas to severe illness due to age, comorbidities and other socio-economic factors.

What the Health Authorities will do:

• Additional testing
• Close monitoring of residents for the development of symptoms
• Early containment of newly detected cases
• Prevention of new exposures and transmission of disease
• Sensitisation of members of the communities 

In the meantime, the OPM says there will be enhanced monitoring and enforcement of the Disaster Risk Management Order in the business district of Montego Bay.

There will be special attention to markets, supermarkets, transportation centres, banks and business places.

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