Jamiaca – Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announced a shortened daily curfew hour during the Yuletide season. This decision was welcomed by the parliamentary Opposition, and health and business experts.
Prime Minister Holness on Tuesday outlined adjustments to the measures implemented to combat the spread of the virus, cutting off an hour of the night-time restrictions.
Effective Friday, the curfew will begin at 10 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. For Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, it will begin an hour after midnight and end at 5 a.m.
The measures are expected to go up to January 14.
Holness said and I quote that “while the Government is making preparations for the fourth wave and the Omicron variant by increasing hospital bed capacity to 800, investing in oxygen generators and increasing access to COVID-19 vaccines, deaths would be inevitable.”
“The only thing I can say is that your life is in your hands. The Government is going to move to return the economy and the country to normalcy and we’re doing so with great caution and with great care,” the prime minister said.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding welcomed the shortened curfew hours to allow for shoppers and merchants to maximise on commercial opportunities.
“I think it’s important that the time be realistically set. If it is set at a more realistic time, then compliance will improve,” said Golding.
