Despite introducing more relaxed COVID-19 containment measures on July 1, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has warned that the country is not yet in the clear.

As the country’s overall vaccination levels continue to lag well behind those of its first world counterparts, the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a very real fear.

Addressing the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 21), Holness noted: “We are starting to see an uptick in our numbers and may be in the early stages of our third wave.”

As such, “the only way for us to prevent this is for Jamaicans to take personal responsibility to exercise extreme caution and diligence in observing the protocols, wearing masks properly… maintaining proper hand hygiene (and) maintaining physical distance”.

Highlighting the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines which have proven highly effective in preventing hospitalisations and death, he stated: “I want to urge everyone who is eligible, to take the vaccine. I want to urge everyone who has already received one dose, to take the second dose of the vaccine.”

Having learned from past mistakes since the start of the pandemic, he relayed that, “we are now 16 months into the pandemic and we know how the virus spreads. We know what works and what does not work. The established protocols have been proven to work”.

Refusing to accept the belief that an open economy and low rates of COVID-19 infections cannot co-exist, he said: “I want to reject the notion that opening up the economy and maintaining a low infection rate are not possible together. Both things can work together. It is possible to go about your normal daily activities but to do so in a safe way.”

Since implementing more relaxed COVID-19 prevention measures at the start of the month, the country has seen an uptick in cases resulting in growing cause for concern. As a result, Holness has warned that he will be meeting with the COVID-19 subcommittee of Cabinet this weekend to discuss the necessity of tightening measures in advance of their August 10 expiration.

READ MORE: Holness warns of tightened COVID-19 measures as cases increase