-CMO urges Guyanese to celebrate upcoming holidays cautiously

THE novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread rapidly, as the country recorded three new cases within the past 24 hours.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, said authorities found those new cases after conducting 78 tests between Wednesday and Thursday.
Health authorities have so far tested 4,641 persons, with 4,240 being negative and 401 positive. Of the positive cases, 185 persons have recovered and 20 persons have lost their lives, but authorities are monitoring 195 active cases.

Dr. Persaud encouraged persons to be wary of the situation, especially with the long weekend ahead.
The country will be celebrating Eid-ul-Adha on Friday and Emancipation Day on Saturday, but the CMO advised persons to limit the “celebrations.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has cautioned countries globally about the safety measures that need to be adopted, in order to prevent the further transmission of the raging coronavirus disease.

“On a national level, I also wish to state that our Muslim counterparts must be cognisant of the local COVID-19 situation and make the necessary adjustments so that exposure to the virus is nullified. This means that the practice of social distancing must be prioritised and strictly adhered to; no more than 10 persons congregating with visible six feet demarcations and more importantly, alternative arrangements must be put in place regarding the distribution of meat to the needy,” said Dr. Persaud.
Similarly, on Saturday, persons need to ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines are at the core of these celebrations.

“As we are about to celebrate over this long weekend, please remember that your health and safety are at risk. Men, just forget your macho attitude, put on a mask and avoid rubbing shoulders. Six feet apart is a safe distance and the curfew is still in effect,” the CMO advised.
While the measures apply nationally, persons in the hinterland regions need to be extra cautious because of the high infection rate recorded in those regions.
Two of the new cases are from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), a region which has been identified as a hotspot for COVID-19.
“I am convinced that together we can flatten the curve with more effort from all of us; in the city we need to make a behavioral change and respect the health guidelines; in our hotspots Regions Seven and Nine which remain high-risk areas, you need to curtail your cross-border movement where exposure to the disease is uncontrollably high, and help to halt the imported cases; in our mining communities, the influx of migrants continues to contribute to the high incidence of positive cases through their constant movement in and out of the communities,” said Dr. Persaud.

The CMO, in an update on Tuesday, had said persons need to take note of the existing situation, especially in the hinterland regions where cases continue to rise daily.
The country, in the early days of the pandemic, had grown accustomed to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) being the epicentre for the disease, but this has since changed, and Regions Seven and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are now the “hotspots” for the disease.
Region Nine shares a wide border with Brazil, where COVID-19 is rampant. Globally, Brazil ranks second for the most cases of COVID-19 after the United States of America, and has reported a total of 2,455,905 cases, with 88,017 deaths.
Dr. Persaud, however, sought to reassure persons that the Ministry of Public Health is doing everything possible to keep Guyanese safe.
“Residents, the ministry continues to plead with you to adhere to the health guidelines, and to intensify your community action. Village councillors, gate keepers and prominent members of the communities, your role is to work collectively to ensure compliance with the regulations if you wish to keep down the transmission of the disease,” said the CMO.

Dr. Persaud further advised persons to stay at home and only leave if there is an urgent need, and to wear a mask in public. Persons were also encouraged to practice social distancing, avoid gatherings of more than 10 persons, and sanitise properly.
COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 16.5 million cases of COVID-19, with over 656,000 deaths. And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.