Lindeners up calls for regional borders to be closed
Nurses attached to the Linden Hospital Complex
Nurses attached to the Linden Hospital Complex

By Vanessa Braithwaite

WITH the rapid increase in coronavirus cases in Guyana, the numbers now being 19, and 17 of which are reported to be from Region Four, residents of the mining town of Linden are calling on officials to close the borders of the town.

This, they believe, will significantly limit the people and vehicular traffic coming from Region Four particularly, which Region 10 shares borders with.
Heightened calls have been made for minibus and cars plying the Georgetown route to stop doing so at this time so that the region will remain coronavirus-free.
Making a public call was a top-ranking official at the Linden Hospital Complex, who related on social media and to this newspaper that he too believes the borders should be closed, as the medical institutions within the region, which consist of the Linden Hospital Complex, the Upper Demerara Hospital, the Kwakwani Hospital and the health centres, are in no way equipped to deal with not one suspected case of coronavirus.
While the Regional Health Emergency Committee has established three isolation rooms at the various institutions to deal with any case of the virus, he revealed that these rooms are not properly equipped with the necessary medical apparatus and even trained staff to attend to any patient.

“We don’t have the equipment, no ventilators, no trained staff to deal with this virus at any of the hospitals,” the medical official said. In fact, all medical officials he said, were told that if any suspected case is discovered, medical personnel should contact the task force to deal with the matter.

This newspaper was reliably informed of at least one suspected case where the patient was given medication and sent home after being referred to the task force by the medical personnel at the LHC Emergency Unit.

In a recent interview with the media, Medical Superintendent attached to the Mackenzie Hospital, Dr. Joseph London, urged residents to stay at home, especially if they experience any symptom of COVID-19. He urged them to not go to the hospital, but to call the hotline numbers which are 444-6127 and 444-6137, after which they will be further advised.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, said while the Emergency Committee which consists of the disciplinary forces in the region was able to establish a curfew, it is not in a position to mandate border closure, as Region 10 is the gateway to other regions, particularly interior locations.

Region 10 shares borders with Regions Four, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine. She said that decision will have to be made at a national level.

Lindeners are, however, adamant that the borders should be closed earliest to keep the town and by extension Region 10, virus-free.

“This should be done immediately. We need to close our borders, too many people coming up here on a daily basis, cars and buses traversing the highway, we need to put something in place to ensure traffic going to other regions pass straight through, and not stop, just open up for essential services to come into the town and that’s it,” one very vocal Lindener said. These sentiments were echoed by many others, particularly on social media platforms.

The Regional Health Emergency Committee continues to enact measures to keep the town sanitised and promote social distancing. Linden was the first town to institute a mandatory curfew which sees businesses closing at 18:00hrs and citizens being off the streets by 20:00hrs.

The public spaces are also being sanitised by the LMTC and the Linden Fire Station. All dine-in services were halted at restaurants and public sinks were installed at various locations. Regional officials and the police continue to monitor business places to ensure measures are being practised and an aggressive COVID-19 media campaign is being carried out to keep the residents informed.

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