A recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Manchester has set off alarm bells for the Government, leading today (January 25) to an immediate tightening of curfew and other containment measures in the parish.

Addressing a press briefing this morning, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said starting tonight, curfew hours in the parish will be from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. Those curfew hours will run until February 8.

Additionally, public gathering limits have been cut to 10 people, down from 15 as permitted elsewhere.

125 NEW CASES SINCE JANUARY 10

Also until February 8, public transportation authorised by the Transport Authority Act will be allowed to operate, as long as no passengers are being transported, for an hour before and an hour after the curfew.

During the press conference, the health minister noted that, with 125 new cases recorded since January 10, Manchester accounts for 11.3 per cent of all confirmed cases in the island over the past two weeks.

Up to Sunday (January 24), the parish has recorded 789 cases overal, with 12 confirmed cases over the previous 24 hours.

Jamaica has recorded 15,012 COVID cases with 2,609 being active