Vendors in Pearnel Charles Arcade fear the extension of the State of Public Emergency (SOE) in East Kingston will further add to their COVID-19 woes.

This as the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) temporarily closed all but two of the arcade’ gates following a shooting incident inside that left one man dead.

The vendors say the closure is affecting business but the KSAMC at the time said the gates were closed to regulate movement inside the facility in keeping with the SOE.