— as Region 6 ramps up fight against COVID-19

The Port Mourant/Johns Neighborhood Democratic Council on the
Corentyne Coast has announced that the Port Mourant Market will be closed
indefinitely, in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The Port Mourant Market day is every Saturday and is considered one of
the largest in the country.

On Friday, wholesale vendors would also converge and ply their trade at
the market. However, a number of vendors had already set up their
stalls and customers were out in their numbers during the course of
the day to stock up on items.
Chairman of the NDC, Mahesh Kumar Dular, told reporters that the gates of the market will be closed at 16:00hrs on April 3. The NDC also noted that they will be working closely with the police to ensure vendors adhere to the restrictions.
Vendors showed up as per normal on Friday and many consumers flocked to
purchase their fresh fruits and vegetables.

The NDC noted that all religious organisations and public gatherings are limited. Residents are also asked to maintain the three to six feet social distancing. No dining, drinking at bars, restaurants or snackettes are allowed. Businesses are expected to close at 18:00hrs daily and to cater for the health and safety of customers and employees and business owners are asked to place a hand washing station in front of their business. In light of the directions, the council is asking for the full support from the community.

Thus far, Guyana has recorded 23 confirmed cases of the coronavirus,
with one inconclusive case and 59 negative. Four deaths have been recorded. Many NDCs across the country have taken the decision to implement restrictions in order to reduce the spread of the virus, while many businesses have opted to close voluntarily, until further notice.