Government agencies, non-profit organisations and political operatives were inseparable in communities under COVID-19 lockdown last Thursday as The Sunday Gleaner toured the area, but South East St Mary Member of Parliament Dr Norman Dunn has insisted that his bee-like presence was purely observatory.

Teams from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), the Jamaica Red Cross, the National Health Fund (NHF) and the Social Development Commission (SDC) were seen out giving assistance to residents of Dover, Enfield and Annotto Bay as the communities remain under quarantine following a spike in coronavirus cases there.

Zavia Mayne, the minister of state in the MLSS, told The Sunday Gleaner that many lessons have been learnt since Bull Bay in St Andrew became the first community placed under quarantine after the virus was detected in the island, with Corn Piece in Clarendon following later.

Dunn tried unsuccessfully to explain the boundaries of the first quarantine order, which was announced by press release by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) late in the evening of May 7.

On Thursday, Dunn said the team was “in the second cycle of three to deliver packages to the affected families”, although Mayne had earlier said the MLSS was catering for “two cycles in 14 days”.