Prime Minister Andrew Holness speaking at an emergency press briefing on Friday (August 21) announced new curfew measures amid a spike in the country’s coronavirus cases.
The new curfew hours will begin at 7:00 p.m. and run until 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
Holness said that the new hours would affect Jamaicans in the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and Clarendon who will need to be indoors by 7:00 p.m.
The new curfew hours which begin on Saturday (August 22) will be in effect until the morning of September 2 at 5:00 a.m.
“As you all know, by now, the virus cannot move on its own. The virus is spread by people who are infected,gathering, greeting , embracing, coming into close contact but also sharing transportation space and moving about,” said Holness as he sought to explain the tightening of curfew measures.
“If we limit movement, we have a greater chance of limiting spread. And the curfew does help to limit movements, particularly nights. And that has been very effective in the management of the pandemic,” added Holness.