…as National lab closes for electrical works

With the National Reference Laboratory being closed for two days to facilitate electrical works there will be no testing of COVID-19 until Monday.

Secretary to the National COVID-19 Task Force, Imran Khan said there will be no testing for COVID-19 on Saturday June 27th and Sunday June 28th as the National Reference Laboratory is closed for electrical works to be done.

Meanwhile, Guyana Chronicle reported on Saturday that cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to climb. The country recorded some 15 cases on Friday. Health authorities discovered these cases after conducting 68 tests between Thursday and Friday, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, during a virtual COVID-19 update, on Friday.

Some 2,423 persons have been tested to date, and the results of those tests proved that 2,193 were negative and 230 were positive. Of the positive cases, some 109 persons have recovered and 12 persons have died, but health authorities are still contending with 109 active cases, of which 108 are in institutional isolation and one in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The safety of every Guyanese is dependent on the compliance with control measures, which were implemented by local health authorities to contain the spread of the disease. Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is still the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities outside of Georgetown which have recorded cases. The Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, notably Aranka, has the second highest number of confirmed cases. It is a mining community, which means that there is continuous movement in and out of the area, making it extremely easy for the disease to spread.

Among communities on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey; among those on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

There is, however, a worrying development in Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini), where over 20 cases have been recorded in a short space of time. This has prompted health authorities to label the community as the epicentre for Region One.

“We call again on the residents of Moruca and those of the mining communities in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to heed the warning. This disease is easily transmitted when you are in close contact with someone who is positive,” Dr. Persaud warned.

Health authorities have found that a large number of positive cases, in both of these regions, have no signs and symptoms, so they are asymptomatic. These persons can transmit this disease and the infected person will not even know that they are sick because there is no sign.

Toshaos and village councillors, operations’ owners all have a role to play in this pandemic. Dr. Persaud called on them to impress upon villagers and workers the importance of what is being said. All of the evidence points to the fact that if the guidelines are followed, the disease will be contained.

Considering the situation, Dr. Persaud had said residents of the community need to “be on guard” and take all necessary precautions in order to prevent further spread of the disease.
“We are urging you to support the health team in this area by coming forward for testing if you have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive; by staying home unless it is necessary for you to come out, and if you must come out, ensure that your noses and mouths are covered.

“We ask that there is no congregating of persons, and that all passenger vehicles adhere to the guidelines that were provided. “We wish to also remind you of the runaway situation in neighbouring Brazil that has climbed to the position of being the second country in the world to have reported cases with an alarmingly high number of deaths registered,” said Dr. Persaud.

EXTREMELY VULNERABLE
Residents in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are extremely vulnerable because of this situation, and need to be vigilant and stop all cross-border movement and stop migrant persons entering the communities in those regions.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 9.2 million cases of COVID-19, with over 479,000 deaths. And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.