The health authorities in the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice region on Monday reported that 10 persons who contracted the Coronavirus , have recovered from the disease.

The Regional Health and Emergency Committee noted that a total of 11 cases, including, one death were recorded in the region.The ten cases have recovered.

This  disclosure was made by  Region Ten COVID Coordinator Dr Michael Marks who said that 126 persons have been tested from the region as the health department continues an aggressive approach to safeguarding residents from the dreaded COVID disease.

“We have eleven cases with  one death and the other ten have recovered coming from 126 tests that were conducted,” Dr Marks said.

Dr Marks stressed that all efforts by all stakeholders continue to play a pivotal role in what he dubbed the region’s continued good efforts in maintaining low numbers, while ensuring that all health related precautions are taken, thus ensuring that the public remains safe and secured.

“As a region we continue to do what is expected of us and that is why we operate with zeal and sincerity because for us our objective is to ensure that we do not record any additional cases and more so record any other death so we will continue doing this path,” he declared.

Head of the RHEC, Orrin Gordon told the Committee that as a result of many pleadings and calls for testing to be conducted to persons coming into the region, Region Ten is the only locale that deliberately and actively conducts tests on all returning persons to the region.

“The records show that we are the only place which insists and tries to test persons that are returning to the region and through those tests we were able to identify a positive case and while we have been urging ghe NTF to institutionalize it, we are not sure if they will do so but what I can say is that Region Ten will continue to make efforts to test,” he assured.

Gordon said that recognizing the impact that more persons being infected would have on the region, they have been pulling out all stops to ensure that adequate and effective systems are in place to safeguard the health and safety of residents. He disclosed that they have been aggressively monitoring areas such as Linden, Kwakwani, Ituni and several other communities within Region Ten including 47, 58, Mabura and Rockstone.

The RHEC Head pointed out that for almost two months, the committee was without any cases and while the body is hoping that the numbers remained at ten, the region remains confident that all efforts will continue be placed into ensuring that residents and visitors to the region are closely monitored. “We will continue to do what we have to and that is why we will continue to use whatever systems and avenues that are available to us. This will ensure that persons coming into the region from overseas are tested, thus ensuring they are indeed safe and free of the disease,” he promised.

The RHEC has noted that while at one stage they had the third highest number of cases  for regions in Guyana the situation has changed somewhat over the ensuing period.

Gordon reassured the committee that while the National Task Force and other regions may not  see the need for testing those returning to their regions from abroad, for their peculiar circumstances, his region will persevere. So far the returnees have been very compliant and responsible. He said that they are engaging returning nationals explaining to them on the importance of such testing. He said that while there have been some resistance and reluctance by some, the majority of persons are willing to submit themselves to be tested.

“It’s evident that because of the National Task Force policy of seven days home quarantine that persons will not be too keen on being tested but we have been meeting and discussing with them the reasons for such actions and they have been consenting to be tested,” Dr Marks had said.

He added, “We tested several persons who were in Suriname and 18 out of 20 persons who had returned from the cruise ship abroad and these tests were done incident free as persons understand and actually agreed with our reasons for testing and are making themselves available.”

The Region Ten COVID Coordinator admitted that while his role is challenging and poses some difficulties at times he remains steadfast and dedicated to ensuring that he competes the task ahead. “There have been cases where I was threatened and had to notify the Police Commander but I am determined to get this job done as the hardest part is being able to empathize with persons as when you can, there is lot you can achieve ” he declared.