Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton
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Dr. Christopher Tufton and Dr. Morais Guy
Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says he does not believe the mask mandate should be re-introduced for the population.
In May, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that he would again make it mandatory for persons to wear masks in public spaces amid the increase in COVID-19 cases.
There has been no further comment from the Government on the matter.
Speaking Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, Dr. Tufton said despite a case of monkeypox being detected in Jamaica, returning to mandatory mask wearing was not recommended by the Ministry of Health and he personally did not "see the need for it at this time".
However, he was quick to point out that the situation is fluid and so it "depends on what happens as we go into the future and how the process is managed and how it manifests itself in the population".
The Ministry of Health is encouraging Jamaicans to continue practicing virus prevention protocols, including physical distancing, handwashing and mask wearing in public spaces.
Dr. Tufton said more cases of monkeypox are expected in Jamaica.
As part of the public education campaign, he said the Ministry of Health is considering taking the message of protection to social events where physically distancing is not practiced.
The campaign would target especially partygoers and promoters by raising awareness of the risks of the disease and suggesting some protocols, which he said "may include mask wearing" as well as specifications about the space provided at venues.
But Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr. Morais Guy has said the Ministry of Health's pronouncements on the country's preparation for monkeypox does not give him confidence.
Dr. Guy has taken issue with the readiness of isolation centres, training of healthcare workers and public education about the disease.
He argued that the country has not been made fully aware of the nature of the training that has been done but said he would be happy "if we can be assured as a country that the contact tracing is ramping up, that the people are going and they are trying to find everyone to contain it [and] isolate it".
The Ministry of Health has said healthcare workers have been sensitised about monkeypox and trained to test for the disease. At a press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Tufton said the sensitisation of health workers would continue.
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