COVID-19 deaths pass 600 with infections about to hit 40,000

With Jamaicans generally confined to their homes today, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is warning that it has been on the lookout for individuals breaching the Good Friday no movement orders.

In a Twitter post this morning, the JCF said: “The Police have established various vehicular checkpoints across sections of the corporate area to ensure that only essential service workers or those with exemptions are out.”

In its post, the JCF provided images from some of its checkpoints which revealed that vehicles have been out on the streets and persons are being questioned about their reasons for being out of their homes.

Two-day, all-day curfew for Easter Sunday, Easter Monday

Today is a no movement day with the curfew which started at 8 p.m. on Thursday to continue until 5 a.m. Saturday morning.

Another curfew will then begin at noon Saturday, running until 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, meaning Jamaicans will face another two straight days of no movement to prevent persons from engaging in traditional Easter Sunday and Easter Monday holiday activities.

On Thursday, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, the country’s chief medical officer, warned that a spike in cases could take place in the two to four weeks following the Easter weekend if COVID-19 restrictions are not adhered to.

This morning, the Ministry of Health and Wellness indicated that the country had recorded another 424 infections over the previous 24 hours, as well as eight deaths that pushed total fatalities to 607.

The total number of infections now stands at 39,967, meaning the country is therefore likely to confirm a landmark 40,000 cases tomorrow, once it has tallied results for today.