Alvin M. Keeling 
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the nighttime curfew has been relaxed by one hour and will now begin at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. daily from Friday, December 10, through Thursday, January 13, 2022 .
At the same time, there will be a further relaxation of the curfew on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve to facilitate the traditional activities that take place on these days.
Jamaicans traditionally observe the Great Market on Christmas Eve. To this end, the nighttime curfew will begin at 1 a.m. on Christmas Day and at 1 a.m. on New Years Day.
Holness made the announcement during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
He explained that the government’s goal is to enable Jamaicans to enjoy the holiday season responsibly.
“How well we’re able to sustain those hours really depends on how people behave. Our intention is by no means to deprive people of enjoying the Christmas spirit and enjoying the festivities of the season, ”said Holness.
“I think the country has been under so much stress and pressure that people need to be able to enjoy the season responsibly …” he added.
Meanwhile, the prime minister also announced that the opening hours of beaches, rivers and water parks have been extended from one hour to 5 p.m. a day.
The following will also come into effect or remain in effect:
-The compulsory homework order for public sector workers ends on December 31.
– The limit for public gatherings remains at 10.
-The number of people authorized to attend a religious service is always 100; thus, too, the number allowed to attend a wedding.
-The number of people authorized at an annual general meeting remains at 100 but remains at 50 for functions organized by public entities. Public sector events will only accommodate fully immunized people.
-The maximum number of people authorized for funerals and burials remains at 20.
Announcing the relaxed measures, Holness stressed that Jamaicans must take personal responsibility for their health as the threat of the coronavirus remains. He said this was so in light of the highly transmissible variant of omicron that appeared in South Africa in November and has since spread to more than 40 countries.
