“A day can make a difference” an assertion from the President of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), who is urging the government to adjust the 1 am curfew for new year’s eve amid a rising positivity rate, low vaccination rate and non-compliance with covid-19 measures. 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says Jamaica could see as many as 1500 new daily infections by mid-January if the omicron variant of COVID-19

An increase in Jamaica’s daily COVID-19 positivity rate may be the onset of the dreaded fourth wave of infections, according to Dr. Brian James

Sunday, December 26 saw a positivity rate of 25.2 per cent; with 84 positives out of 333 tests done; the highest positivity rate recorded in more than 2 months. The previous day, the positivity rate was 10. 8 percent, with 192 positives out of 1, 949 tests done. The rate again increased on Monday to 14. 6 percent. 

Dr. James is urging the government to tighten the 1 am curfew for New Year’s Eve. But how instrumental will this be? He says there’s a need for greater enforcement of the general public gathering limit in light of the country’s low vaccination rate.