Last Updated on March 14, 2020, 4:50 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Tourism Minister of Jamaica Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that the Tourism Ministry has made a protocol to control and prevent COVID-19 and all tourism entities should adopt these measures.
Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) has specially assigned staff-members, who would be a part of the newly developed Stakeholder Risk Management Unit. These members are tasked with closely monitoring the implementation of the protocols.
The announcement regarding these measures was made during an emergency press briefing at the Ministry of Tourism office based in New Kingston.
Minister Bartlett said that it is the responsibility of the Ministry, to ensure the safety and health security of all the people who are involved at any level in the industry.
He added that it is also critical to build clinical flexibility, which is the platform on which the industry will survive over time.
For the same reason, the Ministry of Tourism has set up, a protocol along with the Ministry of Health, which is to be followed by every entity linked with the tourism industry.
The Minister noted that a nine-page document is in circulation to all tourism stakeholders. The document covers three essential elements which are, developing the required infrastructure, providing support to the Ministry of Health and educating all stakeholders and spreading awareness amongst the stakeholders about the COVID-19 virus.
He told that the first element of the new protocols deals with the required infrastructure. The Ministry wants to ensure that all hotels have all the necessary chemical components that are necessary for thorough sanitization.
He also added to the statement that temporary holding facilities would be designated at all entities. They would hold anyone would display symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19.
He added that The Ministry is encouraging that medical support would be readily available in every tourism entity in Jamaica.
He told that some hotels have already identified rooms for quarantine.
Public education is the final element of the protocol.
Hence, the Minister has given the task to his Corporate Communications Division to create and distribute educational material about the newly established protocols and COVID-19 to all tourism entities.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
