—in La Parfaite Harmonie until May 23

THE Ministry of Public Health has announced that the COVID-19 testing mobile unit will be in the communities of Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara and Cornelia Ida, on the West Coast of Demerara.

According to a news bulletin from the Department of Public Information (DPI), the mobile unit which has been in La Parfaite Harmonie, would be there until Saturday, May 23.
The unit was introduced to ramp up screening and testing and also to effectively control the spread of the coronavirus by having more people know their status, the bulletin stated.

“Persons visiting the unit are screened and this involves a series of questions which will determine the likelihood of exposure to the coronavirus. If they meet the criteria for testing, then a sample will be taken for testing at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory,” the bulletin said.

The staff of the unit also encourage those accessing services to practise safety precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission; these precautions include wearing a facemask; practising social distancing; handwashing and sanitising frequently; avoiding touching eye, nose and mouth and seeking immediate medical attention if ill, especially if symptoms mirror those of COVID-19.

As of May 22, 2020, Guyana has recorded a total of 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19.