Dear Editor
IT is good, really commendable that organisations and individuals have been joining with the government in bringing relief packages to members of the public in their respective communities, and even to the homeless. It is another reminder that mitigating the effects of the pandemic, must not be confined to efforts on the part of the State, as it is a matter of very grave consequences involving all of us.

These are actions which speak of humanitarianism, even it had to be exemplified in a situation which threatens all of us.

But comments must be made on the very thoughtful measures that were taken to the homeless by some of the Miss World Guyana candidates. I refer to “Miss World contestants reach out to the homeless”, Guyana Chronicle, April 14, but moreso, the negative comments by some persons who witnessed the act of thoughtfulness.

In this terrifying bio-threat situation, the chain of assistance that is being given to citizens is as strong as its weakest link, in terms of who are refused. It means that whatever support measure is given, ought to be done without condition, to all who can be reached, or is available to receive. For given the virus’s asymptomatic nature, with its subtle carrier ability to transmit, no one, regardless of social condition, should be discriminated against. For to even exclude a single person in this categor, can result in untold consequences. This explains why contact tracing has been so vital, in mitigating somewhat, the transmission/spread of this killer disease, named COVID-19. One has no doubt that there are going to be stepped- up efforts to bring mitigating assistance to this much unfortunate category, and this should include, seeking to place them into whatever available state care facilities that are available. For given their very destitute circumstance, with many presumably having underlying health issues, they are among the most vulnerable.

This leads into another, not too dissimilar category of citizens: those within indigent homes, as well as at the National Geriatric Home, otherwise called The Palms.

Editor, this is an area which has seen a very high casualty rate in Europe, where it has been reported that dozens of bodies have been removed from homes, particularly in Italy, Spain, and even in England, where many such cases were also reported.

Given that most of those residents would be also medically challenged, with many with very serious non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it stands to reason that testing for this very vulnerable grouping should be mandatory, as a means of ascertaining the possible presence of COVID-19 stricken victims, and their immediate removal to quarantine or isolation segments. The possibility of a virus implosion in these home are immensely high, given that they are in what can be called a restrictive situation. Maybe, the fact that visits to these homes have been stopped, are what may have been responsible for the non-incidents of COVID-19 cases. However, nothing should be taken for granted, because of their occupants’ shut- in status. They should be tested as a matter of urgent priority once the means for doing so become available. The health system must not be caught unawares.
Finally, one must come to the question of those in the penal system. Immediately, this is going to be a rather controversial issue, given the concerns about crime. It has been the current experience in some jurisdictions to have some kind of prisoner release, based on type of crime committed, for one does not envisage that very dangerous criminals should be released, even in the kind of environment that currently prevails. There are going to be suggestions for social distancing, or total confinement to cell, as a means of coping with any eventuality of a climbing infection rate, which is always an inevitable possibility in any such crowded arena as a prison, which will also affect vital manpower. As to whether this is already being practised in the nation’s prisons, in addition to masks being worn, there has been no update. Objectively, though, there should be some consideration of prisoner release, but only for those in the minor-offence category. In making this suggestion, this is not the time for archaic mindsets, but for wise decisions that may translate into slowing or stopping the relentless march of COVID-19, effectively saving lives.

Regards
Aditya Panday