A popular calypsonian from the Moruca sub-region in the North West District is one of two persons who have tested positive for the Coronavirus over the past two days.

Reports are that the woman, who is also a primary school teacher in the area, is related to another resident who tested positive for the virus two weeks ago. To date, 10 persons in Region One have tested positive for the virus, the first being a Mabaruma woman whose test returned positive back in April.

Despite the seriousness of the virus, health officials have been experiencing difficulties in their efforts to ensure residents of Santa Rosa, Moruca, Guyana’s most populated indigenous village, adhere to the requisite health precautions to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Reports are that passenger vessels have been operating as per normal despite the fact that the first case recorded in the area was that of an elderly man who travelled to the area from the city. Vincent Torres, a former educator and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) official died several weeks ago at the Kumaka District Hospital at Moruca from complications attributed to the virus.

The man’s relatives, including an offspring, had downplayed and questioned the results of samples taken from him. Later, several other close relatives of Torres, as well as a medical doctor and other hospital staff tested positive for the virus.

Guyana has recorded 156 cases of the virus, and, to date, 1876 persons have been tested for the virus; 92 persons have since recovered from the disease.