Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) President, Richard Pandohie, is urging greater adherence by more Jamaicans to the Government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) infection prevention and control measures.
Pandohie says that based on the hospitalisation caseloads being reported, the public health system “is under pressure [and] pretty much near breaking point”, stressing that “this can’t be allowed to happen”.
Against this background, he says the JMEA fully supports the revised measures to contain the spread which were announced on March 21 by Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, specifically the expanded curfews over three weekends.
While noting that he and other private-sector stakeholders have called for a reduction in the curfew hours to facilitate greater commercial activity, a position that “we still stand by”, Pandohie emphasises that the Government’s COVID-19 response strategy had to be revised based on the current scenario.
“The numbers are frightening. And when you hear about people turning up at hospitals for treatment, not only for COVID, but other ailments, and they can’t get it… then we have to do everything we can to try and pull [the rate of infection] back. So, the Government’s decision is a shift in strategy based on our current reality,” he argues.
While citing a “strong” COVID-19 vaccination programme as key to arresting the spread and flattening the local outbreak, Pandohie also contends that “if Jamaicans, on a whole, were to adhere to the measures and ensure that the protocols that are outlined are observed, it would go a long way too, at least, reducing the accelerated trend that we are seeing”,
“So, I’m encouraging our businesses to, where possible, facilitate work-from-home arrangements for staff and ensure that they are being sensitised about the infection prevention and control measures and that these are being administered in the workplace,”
he says.
Further, he is encouraging all persons to adhere to measures such as wearing masks in public spaces, thoroughly washing and sanitising hands frequently, avoiding crowded areas, and physical distancing.
He expresses the hope that the latest set of revised measures will yield some positive results.
“Because, if these don’t work, then the Government will be forced to take even stronger measures. You can’t have any economic recovery taking place if you don’t have healthy people; so everything, ultimately lies in our own hands as citizens. While the Government is guiding the national response effort, at the end of the day, what they attain also depends on what we do, individually and collectively,” he adds.
