DancehallMag
×
News

Konshens Reacts To New COVID-19 Curfew Hours In Jamaica

By
kons
Konshens

Dancehall artiste Konshens shared his two cents on the revised COVID-19 protocols, which Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced would take effect yesterday as Jamaica deals with the increased spread of the coronavirus over the last few weeks.

The two-week mandate will end on September 23, but before then, community members are expected to commit to an 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew, work from home, and while there is a 15-person cap on essential public gatherings, parties are strictly prohibited.

Konshens, in a series of tweets yesterday, asked, “I agreed with the curfew idea initially, I think it was needed to send a strong message that the shit is serious. But can someone please tell me the real logic behind nightly curfews?? Is it that ppl cant catch covid at daytime?? Wtf is it about. im slow.”

Holness, during a June announcement, said that the objective of the nightly curfew measures, “continues to be the need to reduce the exposure risk of the population to COVID-19, while increasing the capacity of the public health system to respond to cases within the population.”

However, several of Konshens’ followers were quick to concur with his statements. Essae JV being one of them, he responded with, “Data has shown that majority of the transmissions were at workplaces especially Schools, Call Centers and also political rallies. NOT parties.”

And Diiverse, another follower added, “It’s foolish because more people end up out in the day than regularly. How does this stop the spread. More people are in the market more cars on the Rd at the same time trying to get things done before curfew. Makes no sense…”

Others were happy to oblige answers, Bethany Young for example said, “Nightly curfews help to limit social activity (bars, parties, lyming, hanging out): it means everyone goes to work and then goes directly home in the evening.

Kerry Ann Shackleford also gave her synopsis, “Most businesses are closed at nights, the curfew hours are strategic in also keeping the economy afloat, if there is a curfew in the day a lot of businesses will b affected we all need 2 just practice the proper guidelines issued so that we will no longer need curfews..my 2 cents.”

Then Twitter user, Muva Earth said, “Discourages parties and potential new virus clusters,” to which Konshes responded, “I dont think Entire place need to shut down to enforce no parties tho. It’s cool until u a come from country an need gas or wah piece a fowl an KFC lock.”

He went on further with another tweet a few moments later, saying “I think the efforts to enforce the curfew should be redirected to enforcing social distancing. Maybe. Mek me think on it some more.”

Here, user Great Woman gave an answer, which seemed to have to hit home for the deejay. She said, “Social/Physical distancing is behavior change issue. The literature says it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit and an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. What do we do until it becomes automatic?”

Konshens then responded, “Starting to make some sense. What literature says that tho. Gimmi some more info. Interesting”. He also returned a comment to what Bethany Young had said earlier about everyone going to work and then directly home, “Ok. Makes sense. But How about the doubling down on social distancing instead of shutting things down? Penalties for establishment owners, and persons who dont follow rules etc. U think that could work?”

She and many others responded with similar views to say while Konshens’ concepts would work to some extent, Jamaicans and their mentality would never commit to such rules.

The deejay ended all discussion quickly after, saying, “Anyway…. thats enough serious sh*t. Whats the latest f**kry?? Make me laugh,” and went on to sharing his latest music video for his single Backaz.