Letter of the Day | Jamaica dropped the ball on COVID-19

THE EDITOR, Madam:

FOR MONTHS, since March of this year, Jamaica’s COVID-19 situation was well-managed, positive, and a much-talked-about model among those countries doing well in the face of the pandemic. Our Government responded well initially, our people were cooperative, and the infection numbers remained low. And with the mild strain of the virus in the island initially, few got sick and the deaths were few and slow in coming. All seemed to be going well, but now seven months after, sadly, that has all changed.

Jamaicans have since dropped the ball big time.

Locals got careless and complacent with the safety protocols, with many flouting the instructions aimed to keep the virus from spreading. Little by little the situation was bound to get out of control.

And on top of that, the Government also contributed to now an almost uncontrollable situation. How so?

Despite warning and strong advice not to, it opened up the country to thousands of travellers from the USA – the country that other countries wisely banned travellers from – and risking a trade-off between tourist dollars and public safety, the gamble has not paid off.

In addition, despite advice not to, the Government eased certain restrictions during the last independence celebrations, and now the infection rates two weeks after are telling.

As a result, coupled with complacency from many on the street, the Government taking the risk of easing restrictions too early, and succumbing to business interests lobbying for travellers from the USA (the worst COVID hotspot in the world) to be invited in by the thousands so as to capture the tourist dollars (even while welcoming home unruly returning residents from the USA), what we now have (as a result) is our worst nightmare becoming a reality in Jamaica. Infection rates are now running away, with increasing hospitalisations, active cases, critical cases in hospital, deaths, and a now almost overwhelmed health service.

Jamaica is in a growing COVID-19 crisis that is set to escalate to even more frightening levels in the near future, and it didn’t have to be.

Because election was soon to be called, probably the Government became less careful than it should have been, and seeking to please too many too early, it might have all backfired.

Election the last straw

Also, calling an election in the middle of cases spiking and the situation not under control, this may have been the last straw, and after election is over, we can be sure the situation will be more than grim, even as we deal with the numbers brought on by crowds brought together on nomination day, or to celebrate election victory, for instance.

I say the Government should have got the spike under control before calling an election, including placing Kingston under lockdown like other parishes experienced, considering many new cases concentrated there. But the Government and the Opposition in government (hungry for power), they have both allowed politics to be more important than public-health concerns. The result is only left to be seen in the coming days.

I am praying for Jamaica.

DERRICK GILLESPIE