Prime Minister Andrew Holness has blasted Jamaicans who continually put themselves and others at risk.
Holness made the statement during the 2020/21 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Holness presented graphs emphasizing the risk Jamaica faces if the disease is not contained. He blasted the “weak fences” who continue to ignore directives from the health authorities and the government.
“Every individual has a duty to personally prevent and contain the spread of the disease. It is important to take careful decisions about your health, the health of your parents and grandparents and others in your household,” Holness said.
“Refusing to abide by quarantine rules, falsely declaring travel information, failure to observe the social distancing measures and a lack of care in observing the recommended hygiene practice makes you a weak fence. And people who should know better, people who are influencers, they should be the first to lead, instead, they’re being weak fences in the community effort to contain and slow the spread of the coronavirus,” he added.
“We are on the flatter epidemic curve,” Holness stated. However, what happens next is largely dependent on us.
Holness would go on to warn that cases “will increase, and there may be even instances of rapid increase”.
Holness’s statements come a day after authorities launched an investigation against Elephant Man. The entertainer was accused of misleading immigration about his travel history after returning to the island.
On Thursday Jamaica recorded its first death linked to the coronavirus. The victim was identified as a 79-year-old man who was in isolation at the Mandeville hospital.
