COVID-19 measures extended for Westmoreland as hospital capacity nears alert level
/ Our Today
administrator
The enhanced COVID-19 measures for Westmoreland, previously announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, have been extended until January 15.
In a statement last night, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) noted that Westmoreland remains the parish with the highest number of cases per population and that the cases, spread across the parish, involve more than 30 communities.
“New cases are arising weekly from several communities across the parish. The Savanna-la-mar Hospital is beyond its COVID-19 isolation capacity and the general hospital capacity is near alert level,” the OPM said.
“The number of moderate to severely ill patients in the Western Regional Health Authority’s hospitals are more than other regions, so there is limited capacity for any increase in cases.”
The OPM said that, as a result and in keeping with the Disaster Risk Management (Enforcement Measure) (No. 16) (Amendment) (No.4) Order 2020:
- The curfew hours for Westmoreland will begin at 7:00 p.m. on December 31, 2020 and end at 5:00 a.m. on January 15, 2021, with persons allowed to move about between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. each day.
- During the period, gatherings in a public place should not exceed 10 persons and markets and vending in public arcades and public transportation centres are only allowed during the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Between December 31, 2020 and January 15, 2021, public transportation authorised by the Transport Authority Act will be allowed to operate between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. with no passengers being transported between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The OPM said Jamaicans were again reminded that to take personal responsibility to protect themselves, their loved ones, their communities and the country.
“The pandemic is not over and Jamaicans must continue to strictly observe all the infection prevention and control protocols including maintaining a physical distance of at least six feet from each other, staying at home, avoiding crowds, frequently washing and sanitising hands and cleaning of surfaces, wearing masks and obeying quarantine and isolation orders as given by the public health authorities.”
READ: Western Jamaica’s COVID-19 surge remains cause for alarm
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