Zavia Mayne, Minister of State in the Social Security Ministry
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Zavia Mayne and Annotto Bay resident Veronica Laing
The Ministry of Social Security has said more than 1,500 food and sanitary packages will be distributed to residents of Dover, Enfield and Annotto Bay in St. Mary, which are under a 14-day quarantine.
The ministry said the packages, valued at $5.5 million, will be distributed Friday.
Zavia Mayne, Minister of State in the Social Security Ministry, said the welfare teams have been deployed.
Dover, Enfield and Annotto Bay will remain under quarantine until May 21 following a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the communities.
Mr. Mayne said assistance will also be extended to St. Mary communities indirectly impacted by the quarantine.
Provisions should have been in place
Veronica Laing, a resident of Annotto Bay, who spoke to Radio Jamaica News, said while she was not necessarily upset about the quarantine, she is disgruntled that the government did not already have provisions in place for persons in the affected areas by the time it made the announcement.
"If they knew they were going to quarantine the area, put something in place. Don't wait until you put the quarantine then you going to start figuring how you going to go about getting food to persons. They say they're going to give out care packages. How many persons are going to get this care package? It is a big area," she contended.
She added that utility companies should state whether they will give reprieve to persons who are unable to pay bills due to the quarantine.
Miss Laing, who is diabetic, also wants the authorities to explain how persons will be able to access medication during the period.
Some shops in Annotto Bay were allowed to open Friday morning.
However, they were subsequently ordered closed as physical distancing was not being observed.
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