Time for COVID-19 reset

PRIME MINISTER Andrew Holness is right. It is easier said than done in enforcing protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But that is not the case only for celebrity parties and other entertainment events. Which, we are sure, was not the case Mr Holness intended to make with his quip on Monday about the link between celebrities, and other well-known people who have contracted the coronavirus, and their attendance at fêtes.

In the circumstances, in-between their campaign for the September 3 general election, Mr Holness and his health minister, Christopher Tufton, and their technocrats, should set aside a few hours to think about, and reset, their coronavirus strategy. There are many low-hanging fruits ready to be plucked. And although we might not, at this stage, be able to avoid a third wave of the virus, perhaps we can cauterise it and prevent a fourth – and others.

“... When the contact tracing is done, you are seeing that many persons, even high-profile persons who are (infected with the coronavirus), you could trace right back to entertainment,” Holness said, in announcing a two-week ban of parties and amusement events.

That quip came after a nine-day period when the number of COVID-19 cases increased by 46 per cent and several of the island’s top personalities, including leading politicians, public officials and the athletic star, Usain Bolt, reported that they had either contracted the coronavirus or were in isolation, having been in contact with people who are, or might be, infected.

The Government has blamed this upward spiral to heavy partying during the August 1 and August 6 Emancipation and Independence celebrations, when it relaxed restrictions on public events for what, according to Dr Tufton’s imprudent description, was “reward” for the population’s good behaviour in adhering to COVID19 protocols over a long period. The Government, Dr Tufton conceded, was aware of the risks inherent in its actions. It was a reckless decision that could cause lives and impact livelihoods.

If, indeed, this spike is from what happened over the Emancipation and Independence holidays, it is reasonable to expect another, in short order. For a fortnight, Jamaica’s two big political parties, Mr Holness’ Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP), led by Dr Peter Phillips, have been on the hustings. Despite the agreements to limit their traditional campaigning to whistle-stop motorcades and walkabouts with small crowds, who would observe physical distancing and wear masks, the arrangements collapsed before they started. The images of the embracing, dancing and singing, especially during the nomination of candidates, tell the tale.

The political leaders, when they signed off on those protocols, knew, as they now admit, that they would be extremely difficult to enforce. Cynicism, no doubt, caused them to proceed. The prize: control of the government.

The result, if we follow Dr Tufton’s analysis, will be the next wave of COVID-19 cases, which should be evident around the time of the election and shortly thereafter.

GOOD SENSE PREVAILING

The good thing is that good sense, of a sort, is finally prevailing, The JLP and the PNP have suspended their motorcades and big tours. For the remainder of the campaign they will, they say, engage in community canvasses and attempt to reach voters electronically. That, we hope, will help to moderate the postcampaign growth of COVID-19 cases.

It is obvious, though, that we are in the communityspread phase of the virus. The challenge for the administration, therefore, will be to craft policies for our coexistence with COVID-19. At least into the medium term. A full-scale lockdown of commerce is not tenable.

We already know what is most efficacious to counteract the disease in this situation: wearing masks, especially in public places, to prevent the transmission of the virus via our droplets, and practising good hygiene, especially the frequent sanitisation of hands. Mask wearing, though, despite its requirement, is, at best, patchy.

There is an appalling lack of enforcement of the regulations. This is particularly obvious in buses and taxis with maskless passengers squeezed against each other. There is much pretence at wearing them in business places, but often incorrectly. And masks are mostly absent in communities, in part because people see no reason for them. For, until now, few people knew anyone in their circles who had contracted the virus. But mostly, it was for want of mobilisation – of the type when their political parties gin up their bases to get them to vote.

Maybe with the political reset and after the police chief is fully back on the job after his own scare with the virus, things will change and Jamaica can avoid the worst.

The opinions on this page, except for The Editorial, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gleaner.