…PAHO recommends two-week extension of COVID-19 measures
…says cases could reach over 10,000 if lifted arbitrarily

GUYANA’s emergency measures, which were employed to guard against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), will come to an end on June 3, 2020, but Resident Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow has warned that there could be a massive spike in cases, if the measures are lifted arbitrarily.

President David Granger has already said the measures will remain until the pandemic is under control, but in highlighting the specific detriments, which could stem from an arbitrary “reopening,” Dr. Adu-Krow said cases could spike to over 10,000, by July 15, 2020.

“If we lift everything, meaning the lifting the curfew, reopening schools, recreational facilities and so on, on June 3, we are likely by July 15 to see 10,777 cases,” said the local PAHO/WHO representative, in response to a question asked by the Guyana Chronicle, on Friday.

Following a thorough assessment by the Public Health Ministry on Guyana’s prevailing health conditions, the emergency measures implemented to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic were extended for another month, in May.

The updated COVID-19 Emergency Measures, Number Three, published in an Extraordinary Gazette, stated that the extension took effect from May 4 until June 3, 2020. The regulation requires citizens to remain indoors between 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours.

The emergency measures also speak sternly to, among other things, the restriction on visits, specific working hours allotted to essential services, preferential treatment for healthcare workers, social distancing and physical distancing protocols, religious worship and domestic travel.

“As it pertains to the measures, we have made suggestions to the government…we have to be careful with lifting these measures…when we (PAHO) did an assessment on the whole Latin American and Caribbean region, we found that the measures here are 74 per cent on target, but the problem we have is the enforcement,” Dr. Adu-Krow lamented.

Despite the existing measures and prevailing situation caused by the pandemic, persons have been acting callously, by congregating and not practising social distancing.
In expressing his dissatisfaction with the behaviour of some Guyanese, Dr. Adu-Krow said: “We cannot do that, nobody can go out unless it is for an essential purpose or if it is an essential group…that is not happening, people are still doing what they want.”

The PAHO/WHO representative believes that the measures in place are adequate and once enforced, they can take Guyana a long way in the fight against COVID-19.
While he is not against a possible lifting of the measures, Dr. Adu-Krow said if it was up to him, he would extend the measures for two weeks, then look at a “phased reopening” of the country.

A phased reopening of the country would reduce the projected cases tremendously, but an arbitrary reopening could lead right back to a lockdown, in the long run.
“We do not want a situation whereby measures are lifted then we see cases starting to climb again, resulting in another lockdown…when we have a phased approach it will be something we can all live with,” said the PAHO/WHO representative.

Some local agencies and authorities have already started creating plans for a phased reopening of their services and operations, but President Granger has already made it clear that the measures will remain.

“The country will reopen when we have brought the pandemic under control and when we are satisfied that the rate of infection has flattened and has been reduced to the extent that there is no danger to normal economic activity, meaning going to school, business places or even places of relaxation, would not bring about an infection and spread of the disease,” said President Granger during a recent interview on the National Communication Network (NCN).

The pandemic is still unfolding in Guyana and across the world, and in this regard, the
president said he cannot predict a date and time, when the measures will be lifted. President Granger, however, made it clear that he would like to have everything “opened” as early as possible, but it all depends on Guyana’s ability to reduce the rate of infection and deaths.

Guyana has so far recorded over 150 cases of COVID-19 and lost 11 lives to the disease, and health authorities have expressed concern that cases will continue to climb, especially if Guyanese continue to flout and disregard the containment measures.

“If we are to get better, we have to obey the rules…stay at home, avoid crowds and public places…we have to abide by these measures,” President Granger advised, noting that things are likely to get worse unless persons maintain proper hygiene and sanitary measures, and comply with the emergency measures.

The President strongly believes that the country could be “reopened” early, if persons comply with the emergency measures, which have been established and implemented since March 16, 2020.

“We are working to enforce those measures because if persons do not comply, we would not get out…if you continue breaking the rules, we will pay a high price for it,” said President Granger.