Jamaica: Authorities introduce stricter curfew hours September 8 /update 9

Event

The Jamaican government has announced that it is amending the hours of the nationwide curfew to between 20:00-05:00 (local time) as of Tuesday, September 8, due to an increase in cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This stricter curfew will be in force until at least September 23. The government also announced that public gatherings would be reduced from 20 to 15 people and taxis are required to carry one less passenger. Businesses have also been encouraged to adopt working from home models.

All travelers arriving in Jamaica must have prior authorization from the Visit Jamaica website and will be tested for COVID-19 and screened for symptoms at the airport. Those arriving from the US, Brazil, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic will be required to present a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 no more than seven days old. The wearing of facing masks in public is mandatory, in addition to social distancing of 2 m (6 ft).

As of Tuesday, September 8, 3183 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Jamaica, as well as 34 associated deaths. Further international spread of COVID-19 is to be expected over the coming days and weeks.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.