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As COVID-19 cases continue to climb here on the island, inhabitants on the Pedro Cays have implemented intensive measures to keep their environment COVID free.

One fisherman who travels to the cays, Paul Blackhood, said he feels most secure from the virus there.

"Over Pedro is safest place right now because them don't want the COVID to reach over there," he said. "If that is to happen, them have to lock it down and sanitise the cays, and then Jamaica would be in problem because most of the fish pon the island come from ova there."

Blackhood told THE STAR that the cays are under strict policing so as to safeguard the approximately 800 occupants.

Check them temperature

"When anybody go over there, first thing the coast guard them do is check them temperature before them can even mingle with the rest of the population, and them give you sumpn fi wash your hands and sanitise," he said

"When anybody leave and come back on land, we can't go back to the cays with no fresh person because them say they don't want anybody new over there to bring the virus. It is very strict over there, so I don't do anything wrong because them will lock me up for it," Blackhood added.

With the increasing threat of the pandemic, occupants of the cays are also advised to segregate themselves from non-Jamaicans who might stow away in our waters.

"Them warn us too that if we go sea and happen to see any other vessel, we should keep our distance because we nuh want them have the virus and we get it. But no boats are allowed in our waters right now either, and the coast guard are doing their best to monitor things out there," Blackhood said.

"Anybody that live on Pedro Cays have to be Jamaican. Any other boat from, like, Honduras or Nicaragua, anywhere come up, and the coast guard can arrest them," he added.

Blackhood revealed that he is making every effort to protect himself from the virus so as not to be a carrier when he goes back to the Pedro Cays.

"A two trip me make over there since the COVID, so when me come a land, me just keep myself socially distant because when me go back to the cays, my intention is not to have the virus when them test me," he said

He is urging Jamaicans to try their best to keep the virus under control so that it doesn't escape to the cays.

"We have to try and monitor it here on land by doing what the Government tells us so it can't reach over the cays. Virus can travel on anything, but them careful over there, still," said Blackhood.