MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says he and his public health team welcome the weekend curfew hours as an opportunity to control the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

“The holiday weekend [curfew] — in the eyes of the public health team, of course in deliberations, too, with the Cabinet which ultimately makes the decision — does provide an opportunity for a greater spread of the virus,” Dr Tufton said.

Dr Tufton said that the reasons behind the quarantining of some communities is based on an area being assessed as at-risk, and the public health team moving in thereafter without affecting the rest of the population.

Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Morais Guy said the Government has been referring to the need to “reopen” the economy, while ignoring that it would require guidance by data.

Dr Chang said that Jamaican public health officers have adopted a testing programme which is both efficient and better than most.