Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has imposed a lockdown in St. Catherine, after 32 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the parish on Tuesday.

The lockdown will come into effect from 5:00 am on Wednesday April 15th and will remain in place until April 22nd.

Those in public spaces in St Catherine during the period of the lockdown will be required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth. 

But even with the surge in cases, Prime Minister Holness urged Jamaicans not to panic, saying “It was always expected that there would be a spike”. He says what’s needed at this time, is for citizens to “faithfully” observe government’s recommendations on social distancing.

Jamaica now has a total of 105 confirmed cases of the virus. Prime Minister Holness clarified that the general curfew hours, from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am which was previously announced, remain in place.