As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to wallop the island, Jamaicans are of conflicting views on whether the latest amendments to the nightly curfew and gathering restrictions are effective. 

In a most recent poll, Our Today asked readers “Are you satisfied with the tighter curfew and increased gathering restriction announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases?”

The largest majority of Our Today readers, 41.38 per cent voted negatively siding on the perspective not enough was being done to control Jamaica’s climbing infection rate.

Another 34.48 per cent of respondents indicated they were satisfied with the amended measures, while the remaining 24.14 per cent argued that were steps too strong. 

Prime Minister Holness, speaking on the spiralling, triple-digit increase in COVID-19 cases last Tuesday, announced that Jamaica would return to the nightly 8:00 pm effective Wednesday, February 10. 

The islandwide curfew, previously at 10:00 pm nightly, will run for an initial two-week period and be subject to review by the Holness-led Government next Wednesday.

In his presentation in the House of Representatives last Tuesday, Holness argued that the government’s measures could have been much stronger, however, his administration sought to strike a balance between the health implications of the pandemic and its effect on the Jamaican economy.

See related stories below: 

• Tighter curfew, gathering restrictions announced as Gov’t seeks to curb spiking COVID-19 cases
• ‘Balancing pandemic and economy’: Holness explains revamped curfew amid spiralling COVID-19 cases
• Jamaica tops record daily COVID-19 rate for third time in five days; 403 new infections confirmed