With states of emergency and curfews still ongoing in Jamaica, there is a need for officers to be protected while interacting with citizens. Covid-19, however, still remains a threat to Jamaica despite some restrictions being lifted. Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang says gloves, masks, and gowns are critical for front-line workers.
“In a number of jurisdictions, we have had the infection, the infection rate among front-line workers is extremely high and front-line workers who are trained and required to do the job are not less susceptible to the disease than other people and in fact, you can have the same results,” says Chang.
According to Chang, front-line workers especially police officers have to carry out duties despite the threat of the pandemic to themselves and their families.
“If a police officer is asked to assist in searching for a particular contact, he is going to go through his district to find that person- and often times he might go here making inquiries among persons who may be infected,” Chang adds.
He was speaking at an event where the Ministry of National Security received over $2 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Chinese community in Jamaica to assist front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
