Reggae on! Jamaica Tourism Secure regardless of new Curfew rules
- Compared to the United States of COVID-19 spread, number of deaths, Jamaica is doing fine. Calculated per million inhabitants, Jamaica ranks 123rd in the world, compared to the United States in 14th place.
- Jamaica has at least managed 369.960 Doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming everyone needs 2 doses, that’s roughly enough to be vaccinated 6.3% of the country’s population. This is a low number compared to a rate of over 50% for the US.
- During the last week reported, Jamaica averaged around 4,933 administered doses every day. At this rate, it will take even longer 120 days give enough doses for an additional 10% of the population.
While the borders remain open at this time and tourism is returning to this Caribbean island country, a new curfew was imposed from August 11th to 31st.
As alarming as it sounds, this might not make a huge difference to visitors enjoying a Jamaica vacation at the many all-inclusive resorts like Sandals, but it is a clear warning from Jamaica’s Prime Minister Michael Holness that the threat is posed COVID -19 is real and is being addressed.
The U.S. Department of State urges Americans vacationing in Jamaica to get a full vaccination before traveling.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Alert to Jamaica due to COVID-19 indicating high levels of COVID-19 in the country. It stated, “Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA-approved vaccine. “
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness today announced revised Covid-19 protocols under the Disaster Risk Management Act.
Holness said at a digital press conference today that the new measures will apply for the three-week period from Wednesday, August 11th to August 31st.
He announced that from August 11th, the nightly curfew will apply from Monday to Friday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
#Weddings – No more than 50 people can attend a wedding.
For annual and extraordinary general meetings of legal entities, the maximum number of people who may physically attend is 50. pic.twitter.com/So7oDMOCUe
– Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) August 10, 2021
On Saturdays, the curfew is from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day, and on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day.
Shops must close one hour before the curfew.
Further measures are currently being announced by the Prime Minister.
Since last Thursday, the number of daily COVID-19 cases has exceeded 200 and has risen to over 300 cases for three days. Hospitals are also under pressure as bed capacities are limited.
Previously, Holness painted a grim picture of Jamaica’s COVID-19 situation by announcing that 1,903 new virus cases were recorded between August 1st and August 8th.
As a result, an average of 238 COVID cases were registered per day.
Holness blamed Jamaicans for the spike who did not adhere to COVID-19 protocols, including social distancing and curfew compliance.
“This type of behavior will lead to an increase in cases,” he said, noting that the government had anticipated the increase in cases, which led to a subsequent tightening of measures to contain the virus.
eTurboNews reached out to the Hon. Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett for clarification but was unable to receive a response and will announce again.
No one is safe until we are all safe, judges not only US President Biden, but also Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism. He strongly believes that distributing the vaccine to everyone around the world is key. Mr Bartlett fights for the disadvantage of countries especially in the travel and tourism industries, such as Jamaica, that cannot increase vaccine distribution.
The Most Honorable Andrew Michael Holness was first elected a Member of Parliament in 1997 at the age of 25 to represent the West Central St. Andrew constituency, after the Jamaica Labor Party won the People’s National Party on February 25, 2016 Had defeated elections.
