Citizens are being forewarned of a possible spike in COVID-19 cases that could take place in the two to four weeks following the Easter weekend if COVID-19 restrictions are not adhered to.

Speaking at today’s (April 1) COVID Conversations, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, the country’s chief medical officer, stated that a spike in COVID-19 cases was a very real possibility if the government’s restrictions were ignored.

“If the number of persons on the road and in the shopping areas and recreation areas increases, we face the risk that this could be a triggering weekend with the result that in another two to four weeks we would see our numbers going up,” said Bisasor-McKenzie.

She therefore urged, “that it is very very important that at this time, when we are seeing the numbers starting to trend down, that this weekend in particular people stay at home. People reduce their hours out on the road, reduce their going into any kind of crowded situation, wear their masks, keep physically distanced from others, and, if you are sick, stay at home.”

Bisasor-McKenzie also added “that this weekend could be a turning point for us in the wrong direction, if it is that we have a large number of exposures going over this Thursday going up until Monday next week”.

As of Wednesday (March 31), the country has recorded 39,543 cases and 599 deaths.