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KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 12, 2020 (CMC) – Health Minister, Dr. Christoper Tufton, has confirmed a second case of COVID-19 in the country.
According to Tufton, the second case is a US Embassy employee, who had returned from the United Kingdom (UK).
The two COVID-19 cases, in Jamaica, both involve people, who had travelled to the UK.
On Tuesday, Tufton confirmed that Jamaica’s first case of the virus involved a dual-citizen, who had returned to Jamaica, from the UK, to attend a funeral.
The UK is not on the list of places that Jamaica has imposed travel restrictions for, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak; and travel restrictions are in place for China, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Spain, France and Germany.
But Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, today, announced that the government is considering imposing travel restrictions for the United Kingdom (UK).
“The government is actively reviewing the extent of travel restrictions, relating to the UK, and, in short order, we should be saying some more on that,” announced Holness, who was speaking at a press conference, late yesterday, to announce the second case of the virus.
The government has placed a ban on all social gatherings requiring permits, the Prime Minister disclosed.
“No permits will be issued, for the next 14 days, and permits that are already issued, will be rescinded,” he elaborated.
As for churches, funerals, weddings and other social gatherings that do not require a permit, the Prime Minister is urging that discretion be exercised, and that persons adhere to the necessary precautions that have been recommended to protect against the spread of the virus.
The Prime Minister is also advising against non-essential travel, and said that he will not be approving any such travel for members of the Cabinet or the public sector.
