Waterford traders brace for more losses
Published:Thursday | October 8, 2020 | 12:13 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Small-business operators in Waterford, St Catherine, are bracing for further losses as a result of new curfew hours imposed on the community this week after it recorded 24 recent COVID-19 cases and three deaths.
On Tuesday, the Government announced new curfew hours of 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. to curtail the spread of the deadly virus in the community. A similar change was made to curfew hours in Whitfield Town in Kingston, which has seen 21 cases. The rest of the island remains on the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. restriction.
Yesterday, Waterford hairdresser Andrea Rankin lamented the crippling effect the pandemic had been having on her business even before the adjusted curfew hours. Although she accepts that the measure is necessary, she remains concerned about the loss of income.
“If the virus is community spreading right now, then it is dangerous” she told The Gleaner, adding that she tries to stay inside as much as possible.
Devon Williams said COVID-19 has forced Waterford residents to fight the urge to “link up” to play dominoes and host other social engagements in the community and has scared some persons to remain locked inside.
“Shop owners have to lock early because by 6 in the afternoon on Tuesday, is pure police and soldiers we see walking the streets. I support that (new restrictions), but my thoughts are with business operators and how they will make it,” said Williams.
Several residents told The Gleaner that they were unaware that the virus, which has infected more than 7,200 Jamaicans and has claimed at least 126 lives, was that prevalent in the community.
“I never knew it was this bad, and I didn’t even hear of a death due to COVID in Waterford before yesterday (Tuesday),” Williams said.
A worker in another shop said that shops were being forced to close too early, pointing out that businesses are collapsing because people are losing their jobs, and those who can spend are being restricted.
Taxi drivers reported less of an impact, telling The Gleaner that commuters had been largely sticking to the 8 p.m. curfew, so they did not anticipate any major difference with a 6 p.m. restriction
“The people understand we have to understand also. We have no choice. The authorities say people must be off the streets by 6, so we shut it down by that time. Money may lose in some way, but ultimately, a life is far more valuable and important to all of us,” said Peter Johnson.
Medical officer of health for St Catherine, Dr Francia Prosper-Chen, had disclosed that Waterford has registered the most coronavirus cases in Portmore. St Catherine’s overall tally of 1,643 cases up to Tuesday trails only Kingston and St Andrew (2,716) in COVID-19 infections.
“It (Portmore) is not a hotbed for the virus, but due to its density, cases easily multiply a lot quicker than less-dense areas,” Prosper-Chen noted.