Dr Edward Sagala, Regional Health Officer and Senior Public Health Consultant, has urged residents of region seven, including Aranka, Arangoy, Devil’s Hole, Mango Landing and Arau Village to take the necessary precaution to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus during the extended holiday weekend.
In a press statement, the medical expert urged residents to avoid crowding at beaches, parks and other public places, even as they enable health workers to help and serve them with more efficiency.

The use of face masks, the regular sanitisation of hands, social distancing and going out to public places only when necessary were areas re-emphasised.
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Health Emergency Operations Committee (HEOC), continues to monitor and manage a number of suspected and positive COVID-19 cases at various locations in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region, including Bartica.
As at July 30, 2020, the situation was as follows:
Total number of cases recorded in the Region – 82, while the number of persons in institutional isolation stands at 9 and the number of deaths stands at 2.
The Mayor of Bartica, recently, called on residents to be cautious and treat every contact as a suspected case
“Treat everyone as a suspected cases it which therefore means you will keep the necessary distance between yourself and that individual. You will protect yourself by wearing a mask and ensure that the person you are speaking to or communicating with you, that they also wear a mask. You must ensure that your children are off the streets and home and you will also comply with the curfew,” he stated.

He also called on residents to be wise and play a cooperative role to combat the pandemic.
“A collective and collaborative effort is needed at this time. Please do not panic, it is no time for us to get frustrated but it’s time for us to be wise and make sound decisions in our own interests because the life you save may be yours.”
Currently, there are 193 active cases in institutional isolation at various facilities across Guyana; 35 persons in institutional quarantine and three patients housed in the COVID-19 ICU.
Globally, the WHO has reported that positive cases stand at 16,558,289 with 656,093 deaths, while in the Regions of the Americas, positive cases now stand at 8,840,524, with a total of 342,635 deaths.