Time for a temporary lockdown

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, it is my humble opinion that a temporary lockdown of the normal movement of people on this island, save and except for those in the essential services, is particularly important at this point in time.

I believe the relevant authorities dropped the ball by their failure to instruct hundreds of recent arriving airline passengers from COVID-19-affected countries to self-quarantine/stay home for the requisite period of time. I commend them for recognising and acknowledging the error of their ways.

Now, they are correcting their misstep, nearly a week after the fact, by calling up and visiting these persons to instruct them accordingly and, hopefully, to try to retrace their movements after their arrival in Jamaica.

The Government should seriously consider closing down regular activities on the island for even a week to stave off any potential spread from the likely mingling of these recent arrivals.

PETER A. TOWNSEND