Having not visited the beach for the last six months, Junior ‘Jah’ Marsh and his wife, Mary, decided to risk heading from Spanish Town to the seaside haven of Hellshire, Portmore, on Sunday, even if they would be in breach of coronavirus containment measures.

But Marsh had been unaware of the Government’s announcement late Friday evening that beaches and rivers would be reopened for swimming and exercise from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., effective June 7.

The approval, which will run for 14 days under review, had been long in coming since the April 8 ban on leisure activities at all beaches and rivers to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

Nina Mitchell travelled approximately 80km from Ocho Rios, St Ann, to be among scores of persons at Hellshire Beach Sunday morning.

He is also aware of the risk of COVID-19 spread as beaches and other businesses emerge amid the recession but said the Government may not have had a choice.