Concerns regarding coronavirus

THE EDITOR, Madam:

MANY STEPS have been taken to help the country successfully deal with COVID-19 in recent weeks. We recognise that much more is desperately needed because of the unfolding nature of this crisis and the information given mainly by the prime minister, Minister Tufton and the Government’s team.

The parliamentary Opposition team has said that we are all in this together, so one is amazed at the mistakes made or attempts to seemingly politicise the occasion from both sides. There is no doubt, however, that the Parliament must purposely work together and set the example for the country to combat this challenge and rebuild the country.

TAKING ACTION

The prime minister has now taken the correct stance on passengers from earlier flights to report to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to uncover their health status. The Government must get the information from the airport and airlines and take them, and others who were able to break the rules, to the ministry for assessment. They should also stop the flights from England which are still operational, jeopardising our lives in Jamaica.

We need further clarification and support for our nurses and doctors following the statements they made confirming their health status, and the reports that they are being recruited to leave Jamaica. All these professionals, front-line workers at ports of entry, hospitals, security and members of parliament should be tested, and provided with essential protective equipment and transportation to carry out their duties as effectively as possible.

We support the move to have Cuban nurses and doctors helping us to control the virus. However, we wonder why those 140 in-demand professionals are quarantined for 14 days. On the surface, this appears to be a mistake to hold them idle in Jamaica while the need for treatment is so grave. As we see from their arrivals here, and elsewhere, they have come to work and would not expose Jamaicans to any problems which would require being quarantined.