HEALTH officials at the Hinterland town of Mabaruma have confirmed that a patient, who was placed in quarantine after she displayed symptoms of COVID-19, has tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday afternoon, Regional Health Officer, Dr Steven Cheefoon, confirmed the results in a phone interview on Radio Mabaruma’s 95.1FM, NCN’s relay station, and he also noted that the patient is in good health.

He urged residents not to panic but to practise safe health habits outlined by the authorities to curb the spread of the virus.

Samples were taken at the regional hospital at Mabaruma on Monday, after the patient displayed symptoms of the pandemic.

On Monday, officials at Mabaruma placed a lockdown on the business area of Kumaka. Residents noted that persons in the business area were not practising social-distancing measures as outlined by the Health Ministry.

Reports are that sanitisation efforts at the business community were undertaken on Tuesday, and several businesses were reopened several hours after, around 13:00hrs, the designated ‘market day’ at Kumaka.

Guyana has so far recorded 37 cases of the dreaded pandemic with 6 deaths being attributed to the virus. Thus far, 145 persons have been tested for the virus and 27 persons are in institutional quarantine.