FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has defended the decision to end the orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) but once more advised that individuals must now take the personal responsibility to continue mask-wearing, hand sanitising and other measures to restrict the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Holness has been singing that tune since Jamaica began its fight with COVID-19 in 2020. In January he emphasised the need to take personal responsibility in the fight against COVID-19 at the opening of the foreign affairs and foreign trade ministry’s new headquarters in downtown Kingston.

On Wednesday at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of 700 hotel rooms in Trelawny by RIU, he again urged Jamaicans to continue practising recommended public health measures to safeguard against contracting the deadly COVID-19

“…So what we have said is we’re giving advice, we are strongly recommending that you wear your masks, you sanitise, you maintain social distance, and you exercise a degree of caution. You’re going somewhere you’re not certain of, act with due regard. It takes nothing off you in wearing your mask,” Holness said.

“Until the scientific evidence is that the pandemic has passed…up until now the WHO [World Health Organisation] has not said so. So we ought to maintain a certain level of vigilance, but that vigilance has to be exercised by the individual.”

The prime minister also responded to complaints from public health professionals who were upset with the Government’s decision to end the DRMA orders, and the removal of mandatory mask-wearing in enclosed spaces.

In his response, Holness said COVID-19 has become very difficult to use the DRMA to manage the respiratory disease.

“As it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica, I’ve heard some complaints, criticisms, concerns. Some persons have grown accustomed to the management of the society, using the DRMA. And there are some people who really felt that it did bring a kind of structure and order. What it is, it has become increasingly difficult to utilise the DRMA as a means of managing the pandemic. The Disaster Risk Management Act is designed to do just that, it gave the power, it gave government executive powers to act in a disaster. I think we have been in a state of disaster for a very long time. And therefore, in a sense, it has become now a new, normal. And becoming a new normal, our society is yes, governed by law more than anything else, but our society is also governed by rational people behaving responsibly. Indeed that is the essence and foundation of a democracy,” Holness argued.

“So right now we are in what is described as the endemic phase of the pandemic. And that means that it is going to be with us. It might be with us for 10 years, we don’t know, it might be short, it might just disappear overtime, we don’t know. But what we know is that it is not all over. It is in our society. We need to act responsibly.”

Holness further encouraged institutions such as hotels and schools could implement their respective measures.

“Obviously, you know schools, institutions like hotels, you can do your own assessment. The Government will from time-to-time, give an indication as to what the high level threats are. And from that you can implement your own measures that you would require. So I just thought I would clarify that issue for those who are concerned,” the prime minister stated.

Senior advisor and strategist in the Ministry of Tourism Delano Seiveright pointed out that it’s important to note that, “the World Health Organization in January, recommended nations lift or ease their existing COVID-19-related travel restrictions, highlighting that they exacerbate economic and social stress related to the pandemic”.

“This recommendation was made by their International Health Regulations Emergency Committee which is made up of three dozen of the foremost scientific, medical and public health experts in the world. It’s time for personal responsibility,” Seiveright said.

Meanwhile, Holness pointed out that the Government is still monitoring the Omicron variant and other sub variants of the novel coronavirus.

He noted that while majority of tourism workers have been vaccinated against COVID-19, a higher rate of worker vaccination in the sector is needed.

“Now, Minister Bartlett, I gather that 75 per cent of tourism workers are vaccinated. That’s good news, but not good enough. We would want to see, you know, in the high 90s. So please continue the efforts to ensure that our tourism workers are vaccinated. The Government will continue its vaccination programme,” Holness stated.