By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE Linden Mayor and Town Council has made a decision to cancel all Linden Town Week activities slated for April-May 2020, in light of the recent concerns relating to the COVID-19 disease that had one recorded case in Guyana. In addition, the Regional Democratic Council and the Regional Commemorative Committee have also taken a decision to cancel all planned activities that were slated for the last week in March in recognition of Linden’s 50th anniversary. This includes the Linden Mashramani celebrations.

This was relayed by regional officials including Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell; Regional Chairman, Renis Morian; Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon; and Regional Health Officer, Pansy Armstrong, at a press briefing on Friday.

Mayor Arrindell said the decision taken to cancel LTW is a proactive one and the council was advised by the Ministry of Communities to cancel all community- based activities that will allow for large public gatherings. This is in keeping with President David Granger’s message to only allow for large gatherings if it is absolutely necessary.

Arindell said however, that something special will be held on Linden’s 50th birthday, through the media, which will be sometime in April. The situation; however, will be monitored and residents will be kept abreast if changes are made.

Regional Health Officer, Pansy Armstrong, took the opportunity to inform residents of the nature of the virus and how best they can take precautionary measures. She encouraged them not to panic but to remain calm during this time and to desist from public gatherings.

REO Gordon also related that self-quarantine is important and that stakeholders have put measures in place for any patient experiencing symptoms at home to be monitored and treated at home. If there is need to come to the hospital, he said isolation rooms will be set up to at the Linden Hospital Complex, the Upper Demerara Hospital and the Kwakwani Hospital, to monitor those patients.

In keeping with the Ministry of Education’s circular that all schools will be closed from Monday, March 16, the officials said this mandate will be followed in Region 10 as well.
On Wednesday, the first meeting consisting of a multi-disciplinary team was held to discuss ways in which the public health crises can be monitored on a regional level.
Linden is being deemed a hot spot since it is the gateway to many interior locations that share border with Brazil where the virus has been discovered.

In addition, since many Lindeners already experience respiratory illnesses because of being exposed to bauxite mining, residents will be more prone to the virus.
On Thursday, residents were in panic mode, purchasing all the necessary hygienic items as they followed precautionary measures to counter the virus.

According to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to many other countries, including some in the Americas. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughs, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.