Chicken merry, hawk deh near
IALWAYS thought that Jamaicans would unite and look out for one another in a crunch, but I was very wrong. This is, without a doubt, the greatest crunch we are facing thus far. Crime and murders continue to claim lives and have a negative impact on our economy; however, COVID-19 has laid our economy low. It has the potential to ruin it completely, and it can cause widespread morbidity and mortality for a long time to come. It can destroy our little, very vulnerable country.
The respiratory virus is powerless without help from individuals. I blame the prolonged dithering of international health authorities on the initial confusion regarding source control of this very infectious disease. They vacillated horribly on the need for appropriate facial covering, while belabouring physical distancing and hand hygiene. Whereas ‘social distancing’ and hand cleaning are integral to the containment of any viral illness, source control by way of masks is of prime importance.
Consequently, in countries where they have too many so-called ‘freedoms’, many people refuse to cover up. And, here in Jamaica, where there is too much indiscipline, most people do not wear masks, or they wear them inappropriately or ineffectively. I have been complaining bitterly about this and some bloggers have accused me of overreacting, name-calling, and of being a “drama queen”. I hate to tell my detractors that I told you so but, I told you so. Our COVID19 troubles are increasing all because of ignorance, obstinacy, indiscipline and selfishness.
I feel extremely vulnerable and absolutely helpless when I see many businesses posting signs that face masks are required, yet their own staff either do not wear them at all or wear them on their chins or under their noses. Added to that, as soon as customers enter the building, it’s as if they believe that they are within some sort of ‘safe zone’ so they remove their masks, especially when they have to speak (although that is when they are most likely to spread the virus … if they have it).
I went to the outlet of one of our telephone companies and saw workers without masks; and I even saw a supervisor come out into the open area without any mask and without any footwear. She appeared to be in her own living room. People were totally ignoring physical distancing and chatting up close without covering up. It was a scary scene to behold.
Although COVID-19 is lurking undetected within our populace, people congregate in the streets and shop as if it is not in Jamaica. People are having a grand time at parties, nightspots and beaches (both public and private) without any source control. There is an atmosphere of denial amid the merriment that goes on regularly. Ever since the Government relaxed restrictions, it’s as if the threat evaporated.
LIABILITIES
Many travellers to Jamaica have become liabilities. Some have two cell phones and leave the one with the app for monitoring them at home while they go about their business and gallivant. I delivered a package to an address where a traveller from New York was staying; her visitors were all barefaced and did not keep their distance … I felt like a sore thumb with my mask and goggles as I stood far from them all.
We need COVID-19 marshals, ways to capture breaches and report them by cell phone. Distancing, hygiene and masks can stop COVID-19, but hardly anyone is listening.
This pandemic speaks volumes about our failings; even with the meteoric rise in cases, many people remain careless. A CNN public service announcement poignantly showed masks with various decorations on them – it said that masks say a lot about the people who wear them, but they say the most about the people who don’t.