#JaVotes2020 |Holness encouraged by voter turnout; says tougher COVID measures pending

By: Admin

Image caption: Prime Minister Andrew Holness, speaking with reporters after voting at Mona High School.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness voted minutes to 11:00 a.m. at Mona High school in St. Andrew.

Speaking with journalists shortly after, he said he is encouraged by the high voter turn out this morning.

"The report I got this morning is that in almost all constituencies...based upon their canvas and their polling, their turnout seems to be in the region that they were expecting, which is between 55 and 60 per cent," he reported. 

"The turnout has been heavy in the morning, so it would appear to me that persons are calculating rain, calculating other issues and trying to get the polling station early. It seems to me as well that it is generally peaceful," he added.   

Tough COVID-19 measures pending 

Mr. Holness also warned that tough new COVID-19 measures are pending. 

"These infection, prevention and control measures can help you to survive, stay alive, and keep your livelihood, and I think that message is getting through. What we have seen is that the outbreak has been caused by people who were not following the protocols that were set and once that is the case, we would see a spike. So the government will be emphasising more the whole issue of enforcement, and you would have seen the police go on a drive in Half Way Tree to ensure that people are wearing masks and they will be prosecuting those who breach the quarantine rules and the crowding rules and so forth. And so, that is how the society will have to live for the next year foreseeable," he declared.