Travel and mask mandates lifted
Jamaicans and travelers to the island will now enjoy less COVID-related restrictions following the termination of travel and mask wearing mandates. The requirement for travelers to have a negative COVID test three days before entering the island has been lifted. People will, also, no longer be required to wear their masks in enclosed public places. The new state of affairs came into effect last Friday, 15 April 2022.
Despite the freedoms that Jamaicans will now enjoy, some think the government has withdrawn these protocols too soon. Collin Smith, a resident of the Mandeville thinks the decision is premature. “That is one of the biggest mistakes he [the Prime Minister] is making. It is possible that cases will soon start rising again and right now, different [COVID] strains are out there. We don’t know who [is] carrying what out here.”
The Ministry of Health in their announcement acknowledged that strains that are still in circulation and are emerging. “Jamaicans are being reminded, that while our current case numbers are relatively low, the COVID-19 Pandemic has not ended. … New variants and sub-variants of the SARS-COV2 virus continue to emerge. A number of countries are experiencing increases in case numbers arising from the spread of the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron”, The ministry said. While mask wearing is no longer mandatory, the Ministry is encouraging Jamaicans to voluntarily observe mask wearing because of the current situation.
Smith went on to say, “The last time that one person came here with it, it was only one person that inoculate[d] the whole Jamaica. At the rate at which it is going right now, we can’t just let up. If we let up now, we’re going to be in problem.”
Shirley Williams, another resident of Mandeville shared a similar view. “The COVID is not fully gone. I think they should do the test before they come into the island because the disease will continue to spread. It’s too early to do that [lift measures]. In my mind, it can result in a serious rising [of cases].” Williams said.
Jamaica has now joined the lineup of other countries that don’t require a negative test for entry including Mexico, El Salvador and Grenada.
Other mandates that have remained in effect for Jamaicans are the isolation of people who have tested positive for COVID and the sanitization of hands before entering public enclosed places
