New curfew hours islandwide, mask wearing now mandatory
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has tightened curfew hours islandwide as the country tackles the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Holness said the new daily curfew hours will run from 6:00pm each day until 6:00am the following day. The new 12-hour daily curfew will commence on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00 pm and run for 14 days.
The prime minister also ordered that work hours be restricted to 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Supermarkets, pharmacies and corner shops will be allowed to close at 5:00 pm. Holness said markets are to operate from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm except on Sundays when it will be closed.
He also said it is now mandatory for all Jamaicans to wear a mask in public spaces.
The announcement comes as the country recorded another 27 cases of the virus, pushing the total number of people infected to 223.
The spike in COVID-19 cases prompted a lockdown of St Catherine last Wednesday.
