Earlier today the Andrew Holness Administration held a covid-19 press briefing in which they announced several new protocols that will go into effect as of Tuesday, September 8th.

Some of the changes include: 1) the new islandwide curfew hours will be 8PM to 5AM, 2) public transportation by motor car will be limited to one person less than the maximum number of persons allowed to be carried under the relevant licence, and 3) burials will be allowed but with strict observation and enforcement of the 15-person rule. The 15 includes no more than 10 mourners with the additional 5 persons comprising the officiating clergy, funeral officials and the persons preparing the gravesite. Funeral processions are only allowed to include the hearse, the vehicles taking the officiating clergy and the mourners.

These new orders will be in effect for a two week period.

See below an official media release from JIS – Jamaica Information Service – regarding the additional restrictions for communities in Kingston.

Effective Thursday (August 27), persons in several Corporate Area communities will be required to remain at home, outside of curfew hours, as the Government puts in stricter measures to control the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who said that this stipulation, which will remain in place for the next two weeks, applies to the 18 communities where a clustering of cases has been observed.

It was reported last week that these Corporate Area communities have been seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases with no epidemiological link, which have a high risk of transmission, and are now being monitored by the health authorities.

They are Duhaney Park, Patrick Gardens, Pembroke Hall, Cooreville Gardens, New Haven, Half-Way Tree, Hughenden, Arlene Gardens, Molynes Gardens, State Gardens, Zaidie Gardens, Constant Spring, Barbican, Meadowbrook, Havendale, Delacree Park, Olympic Gardens and Waltham Gardens.

Speaking at a virtual press briefing on Monday (August 24), Mr. Holness explained that the new Order will give authority to the police to request that persons return home if they are seen loitering in a public space or have no reason to be out.

The Jamaican government is once again implementing some very strict curfew hours in several Parishes as covid-19 cases are on the rise. The affected Parishes are Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. Thomas.

That being said, effective Saturday, August 22nd through Wednesday, September 2nd; the new curfew hours will be 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

As the number of corona virus cases in Jamaica continue to rise the government is combating the spread by limiting public gatherings wherever necessary.

Hence, as of Friday, August 14th, several beaches and rivers have been closed, and will remain so for a period of two weeks. Below are the names and locations of the beaches and rivers that are closed.

BEACHES:
Kingston and St Andrew – Bob Marley
St. Catherine – Hellshire
Clarendon – Farquharson
Manchester –Alligator Pond
St. Elizabeth – Great Bay
Westmoreland – Blue Fields and Norman Manley
Trelawny – Burwood, Jacob Taylor, Half Moon Bay, and Victoria Charlot
St. Ann – Turtle Tower, Ocho Rios, Fantasy, Cardiff Hall and Flavour
Portland – Winnifred, Frenchman’s Cove and Boston

RIVERS:
Kingston and St Andrew – Cane River, Penfield, Grove, Hope
St. Catherine – Caymanas, Natural Paradise
Clarendon – Salt River, Cockpit
Manchester – Alligator Pond, Noisy River, Gutters, Oxford
Westmoreland – Sweet River
St. Ann – Little Dunn’s River
St. Mary – Spanish River and Blue Hole
St. Thomas – Yallahs, Reggae Falls, Roaring River