Prime Minister Andrew Holness - file photo
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness has told Jamaicans to prepare for a complete lock down of the country to curb spread of the coronavirus - COVID-19.
The health authorities revealed on Tuesday evening that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had risen by four, from 21 to 25.
Mr. Holness told the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon that the government has a plan for each phase of the spread of the virus.
He said the government was prepared to introduce more drastic measures if Jamaica begins to have a rapid increase in cases, through community spread, which would likely trigger the lock-down.
The people should "use this time to be prepared for it, because once it starts to spike, we're ready," he declared.
BARBERSHOPS, HAIR SALONS
Mr. Holness also provided details concerning the restrictions now in force for barbershops and hair salons.
He said, as of today (Wednesday) these businesses will only be allowed to open from 10 o'clock in the mornings until 5 o'clock in the afternoons.
They arrived in Jamaica on March 11.
The others are a 51-year-old individual from Westmoreland, with no travel history, but who was a contact of two previously confirmed cases, and a 61-year-old woman from Clarendon, with a travel history that includes New York, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.
She returned to Jamaica on March 18 on flight BA2263.
The woman contacted the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 helpline when symptoms developed.
Seventeen of the confirmed cases are imported; seven import-related; and one still under investigation. Sixteen are men and 9 women.
The youngest person to test positive is 24 years old while the oldest is 79.
Two of the 150 samples tested are pending, according to the Ministry of Health & Wellness.
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