No COVID quarantine for PM

In the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s disclosure that he has tested positive for COVID-19, it appears that Jamaican counterpart Andrew Holness will not go into quarantine despite the two being photographed maskless in talks and exchanging handshakes as recently as Friday at the Summit of the Americas.

The prime minister had a full day of meetings Monday, chairing the Cabinet and having in-person talks with the prime minister of Curaçao.

Trudeau made the announcement about his status on Monday, tweeting that he would be following Canada’s public regulations and subject himself to isolation.

This is the second time that Trudeau has caught the virus, after first contracting it in January.

Holness attended and addressed the audience on the opening day of the first annual Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St James, on Monday.

Unlike in Los Angeles where he and other world leaders unveiled their cheekbones, Holness was photographed on Monday at the Montego Bay conference wearing a mask.

Naomi Francis, press secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, confirmed that Holness, who is fully vaccinated and has taken a booster shot, would be attending to his responsibilities as usual.

It is unclear whether the prime minister has subjected himself to a precautionary COVID-19 test, but he may do so for travel to the June 20-25 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

The wearing of masks was mandatory for the first two years of the pandemic but now only applies to schools and certain public buildings. Private organisations have latitude in its enforcement.

The prime minister had hinted recently that he might reimpose the mask mandate nationally amid a spike in COVID-19 infections, but has not followed up on that warning.