KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaicans will spend the Easter weekend at home following new restrictions imposed by the government as the holiday weekend approaches.
At a press conference today, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the extension of a nightly curfew over the weekend, which will commence between the hours of 3 PM and end at 7 AM the following morning.
In addition, all beaches, rivers, and other water attractions will be closed for Easter weekend (from Good Friday- April 10 to Easter Monday-April 13). As an unofficial tradition, many locals visit the beaches of Jamaica during the Easter weekend and other holidays. Wit virtually all events cancelled/postponed and all attractions closed, residents will now have to spend their holidays at home.
The Jamaican government has also followed similar emergency orders imposed in Miami Beach and Miramar, ordering specific groups of people to wear face coverings when out in public.
People with respiratory or flu-like symptoms, caring for someone with flu-like symptoms, people over 65 years old, and people with pre-existing conditions are all required to wear masks.
Regarding the opening of the borders to incoming passenger travel, Holness said he has heard the cries of diaspora members wanting to come home and is carefully considering allowing controlled re-entry.
Holness emphasized that Jamaica is not at the point where widescale re-entry will be allowed, and if the borders to open to passengers, there will most likely have to be put in state quarantine and tested for COVID-19.
Until then, the borders remain close to incoming passenger travel till mid-April.
