OFFICIALS and stakeholders continue to take strict measures against the novel Coronavirus which has seen the local cases increase to four. While schools are closed and many businesses have either shut their doors or limited their services, residents themselves are also taking precautions and are taking the advice of social distancing. Churches and other organisations have taken steps to limit large gatherings.

The largest company in Linden, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana, has taken the initiative to do health checks on their workers as they report for their various shifts. Workers related that health and safety officials made it mandatory that the workers’ temperature and other vitals are checked. If any abnormalities are discovered, the workers are set home. The company continues to face financial challenges as their stock has not received any market as yet and remains in the store room. The company had taken a decision to send home casual and contractual workers until sales are secured and shipment is arranged. This newspaper also understands that international shipment services for the company were also affected.

In relation to social gatherings, Commander of Region 10 Division, Hugh Winter, told this newspaper that no police permit will be given for parties and other public social gatherings, until the situation returns to normalcy.

The Linden Mayor and Town Council had already made a decision to cancel all Linden Town Week activities slated for April-May 2020. 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.

Mayor Arrindell said that the decision taken to cancel LTW is a proactive one and the council was advised by the Ministry of Communities. Arindell said however, that something special will be held on Linden’s 50th birthday, through the media, which will be sometime in April. A regional health team has also put measures in place for any person experiencing symptoms at home, to be monitored and treated at home. If there is need to come to the hospital, isolation rooms are set up to at the Linden Hospital, the Upper Demerara Hospital and the Kwakwani Hospital, to monitor those patients. There has been no reported case of coronavirus in Region 10.