Less than seven weeks after the initial opening up of the entertainment sector, the Government has pulled the plug as the island is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 with high levels of hospitalisations, climbing infection rates and mounting death toll.

This was among a raft of new containment measures announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness last evening as the Government seeks to dial back runaway COVID-19 figures.

Previously, for large events, with more than 100 people in attendance, permission would have been needed from the entertainment ministry. However, on Monday night, the prime minister reversed this decision as he announced: “Nightclubs and certain places of amusement are to be closed. No small or large events, for example concerts, parties, tailgate parties, round robins, will be permitted … . .”

In addition to the closure of the entertainment industry, Holness added that the nightly curfew hours would be expanded by an hour, now starting at 7 p.m. and continuing to 5 a.m. the following day from Mondays to Fridays. On Saturdays, the curfew will begin at 6 p.m. and last until 5 a.m. on Sunday. On Sundays, the curfew will be from 2 p.m. to 5 o’clock on Monday morning.

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