The 8:00 pm to 5:00 am daily curfews, announced as a countermeasure against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), have been extended in Jamaica for the next six days—ending on Monday, March 1.

According to a Wednesday (February 24) statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), public gatherings are still restricted to a maximum of 10 persons.

The OPM statement also explained that a further review of various measures under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) due to expire on Sunday, February 28, will be undertaken and an announcement made regarding measures that will be in place effective Monday, March 1.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Andrew Holness reiterates that COVID-19 is spread when persons move.

“We are encouraging persons to stay within their homes as much as possible and minimise movement for necessary and productive activities such as going to work, obtaining food and medical supplies, accessing medical services, and conducting businesses and financial transactions,” the OPM statement explained.

“We must all continue to keenly observe the infection prevention and control measures to guard against the spread of COVID-19. These measures include maintaining a six-feet physical distance from others, frequently washing hands with soap and water or using sanitiser and always wearing a mask in public,” the prime minister’s office continued

“Only through this concerted effort to control the spread of the virus,” Jamaica House said, “will we be able to maintain a level of productivity to secure lives and livelihoods and recover more quickly from this crisis”.