…but gov’t likely to extend curfew, other measures

While the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) is considering an extension of current emergency measures in force across the country beyond the 3rd of June 2020, it will not be complete lockdown, head of the body, Chief Executive of the NCTF, Joseph Harmon noted on Saturday.

Harmon noted in a statement that rumours of a move to implement a complete lockdown is causing panic buying and confusion in the country. “We call on the general public to observe the guidelines for social-distancing, washing of hands, wearing of mask and the definition of essential services as is contained in the gazetted order covering these measures,” he said on Saturday.

The NCTF was set up in March to coordinate government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has been coordinating the response of the authorities to the pandemic. Already Guyana has recorded some 152 positive case of the Coronavirus and in recent weeks , there has been a spike in cases with the Moruca sub-region in the North West District recording 8 cases within a 10 day span. Thus far, 12 persons have died from COVID-19 complications and recent statistics pointed to a high incidence of cases among young males. More than 60% of the cases have been recorded in Region Four.

On Thursday, President David Granger told a United Nations forum that small states such as Guyana require extraordinary financial support to aid their COVID-19 fight. The President told the forum that Guyana, one of the smallest states in South America, is bordered by countries with a high level of COVID-19. He said migrants from these countries seek refuge to enter Guyana’s territory and enter areas which necessitates delivery of effective health services over long distances and to remote settlements.

“These factors impact the state’s ability from disease and to earn revenue to protect its people,” the President said, noting that Guyana’s challenges are compounded by its COVID-19 fight. President Granger noted that small states need sturdy and structured systems to save lives and support livelihoods.

Resident Representative of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Dr. William Adu-Krow has warned that there could be a massive spike in cases, if the measures are lifted arbitrarily.
President Granger has already said the measures will remain until the pandemic is under control, but in highlighting the specific detriments, which could stem from an arbitrary “reopening,” Dr. Adu-Krow said cases could spike to over 10,000, by July 15, 2020.

“If we lift everything, meaning the lifting the curfew, reopening schools, recreational facilities and so on, on June 3, we are likely by July 15 to see 10,777 cases,” said the local PAHO/WHO representative, in response to a question asked by the Guyana Chronicle, on Friday.

Following a thorough assessment by the Public Health Ministry on Guyana’s prevailing health conditions, the emergency measures implemented to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic were extended for another month, in May.

The updated COVID-19 Emergency Measures, Number Three, published in an Extraordinary Gazette, stated that the extension took effect from May 4 until June 3, 2020. The regulation requires citizens to remain indoors between 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours.
The emergency measures also speak sternly to, among other things, the restriction on visits, specific working hours allotted to essential services, preferential treatment for healthcare workers, social distancing and physical distancing protocols, religious worship and domestic travel.

“As it pertains to the measures, we have made suggestions to the government…we have to be careful with lifting these measures…when we (PAHO) did an assessment on the whole Latin American and Caribbean region, we found that the measures here are 74 per cent on target, but the problem we have is the enforcement,” Dr. Adu-Krow lamented.
Despite the existing measures and prevailing situation caused by the pandemic, persons have been acting callously, by congregating and not practising social distancing.

In expressing his dissatisfaction with the behaviour of some Guyanese, Dr. Adu-Krow said: “We cannot do that, nobody can go out unless it is for an essential purpose or if it is an essential group…that is not happening, people are still doing what they want.”
The PAHO/WHO representative believes that the measures in place are adequate and once enforced, they can take Guyana a long way in the fight against COVID-19.

While he is not against a possible lifting of the measures, Dr. Adu-Krow said if it was up to him, he would extend the measures for two weeks, then look at a “phased reopening” of the country.

A phased reopening of the country would reduce the projected cases tremendously, but an arbitrary reopening could lead right back to a lockdown, in the long run. “We do not want a situation whereby measures are lifted then we see cases starting to climb again, resulting in another lockdown…when we have a phased approach it will be something we can all live with,” said the PAHO/WHO representative.