Prime Minister Calls On Jamaicans To Maintain Social Distancing

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has reiterated calls for Jamaicans to maintain the new rules regarding social distancing, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Prime Minister’s call came during a COVID-19 Digital Town Hall, hosted at Jamaica House on Thursday (March 26).

“What we ask of the public is to listen closely to what the Government is saying, follow the advice that is given from credible sources and make the necessary behaviour change,” the Prime Minister said.

He emphasised that Jamaicans, especially those who go into business establishments for essential services, must maintain distances of no less than three feet apart.

“For Supermarkets and other establishments of that nature, markets and food establishments, what we have said is that they must maintain the rules around social distancing,” the Prime Minister said.

“Put in place sanitisation, [so] that there is a sanitisation station at the entrance. These kinds of measures must be in place,” Mr. Holness said.

He also called on Jamaicans to limit movement and social interactions and maintain social distancing.

The Prime Minister also reiterated calls for persons primarily in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, to practise social distancing, given that they have to work in groups.

“The BPO sector must maintain the hygiene requirements, and social distancing requirement. Don’t take it for a joke. Someone sent me a picture in a BPO operation where everybody was at lunch quite fine, sitting in close proximity to each other. Schedule your lunch breaks so that you don’t have a crowd,” Mr. Holness pleaded.

“It is these kinds of social behaviour change that will flatten the curve [of persons who become infected with COVID-19],” he added.

The Prime Minister was joined by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke; and President, Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Keith Duncan.