…Region Seven village working to contain pandemic

THE small indigenous village of Batavia, in Region Seven, (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) has seen a spike in coronavirus cases this week, as 10 new cases of the pandemic has been recorded there.

Toshao Oren Williams told the Guyana Chronicle that the new cases were disclosed to the village, on Friday, following a series of tests conducted by medical officials last week. Some 15 tests in total were conducted at the riverine village this past week.

Williams said that health teams are expected to return to the village on Monday to carry out further tests.
He said the new cases carry the total number recorded in the village within the past two weeks to 14, adding that the village is taking all health precautions to contain the spread of the virus. “Everyone is advised to stay at home and wear a mask when going out essentially,” he said adding that, “I’m trying to have everyone adhere to all necessary precautions.” Batavia has a population of 550 persons.

The cases at the village are said to be imported ones, and, according to the village leader, the first persons who tested positive from the village, were tested at ‘Devil Hole’, a busy trans-shipment point for miners in the Cuyuni, close to the Venezuelan border where a number of cases have been recorded by the authorities. They have been placed in quarantine at Bartica while the new cases have been placed in isolation at Batavia.

The village leader noted that most of the persons from Batavia who have tested positive for the disease are miners and boat operators. “We are trying our best, it is a very difficult time for us here,” he said regarding containment of the cases.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Public Health reported that 17 new cases of the pandemic had been recorded in Guyana, carrying the total recorded to 430. To date 185 persons have recovered from the Coronavirus while 225 persons are in isolation.

Thus far, 4801 persons have been tested in Guyana while 4371 negative results have been recorded. The number of deaths attributed to the virus remains at 20.