— restricts unauthorised travel to Regions Seven, Eight and Nine

By Navendra Seoraj

GOVERNMENT, in extending the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) control measures, has amended a few of those measures, and this includes the reduction of the time for the national curfew.

According to an order published in the official Gazette, the curfew is now 21:00hrs to 05:00hrs, a change from the previous 20:00hrs to 6:00hrs curfew.
Part of the amended measures also includes a restriction on unauthorised travel to Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). Those regions were classified as “COVID-19 hotspots” because of the high rates of infection there.

The adjusted measures come at a time when the country continues to record a consistent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, with some 25 new cases being recorded in the past 24 hours.

The country has recorded 674 cases to date, but 310 of those persons have recovered and 22 persons have lost their lives. Authorities have said that seven of the remaining cases are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the others are in institutional isolation.

Region One has 104 cases; Region Two has eight; Region Three has nine; Region Four recorded 190 cases; one case in Region Six; 155 cases in Region Seven;10 in Region Eight; 138 in Region Nine; and 39 cases in Region 10. These figures have influenced the extension and adjustment of the control measures.
The COVID-19 emergency measures, which were set to expire on Saturday, have been extended to August 31, 2020.

These emergency measures were made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement –B, March 16, 2020.

According to health authorities, the COVID – 19 Emergency Measures (No. 8) will expire on August 31, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

The Government of Guyana has since done a rapid assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has found that it was fragmented and incapable of administering the public health, economic and social measures needed to keep the population safe.

“The Government of Guyana has initiated a complete overhaul of the current public health response. Government has looked at the approach used in other territories, especially in the Caribbean, and has resolved that a multi-sector and multi-faceted approach has been the most successful model, with an aggressive policy of detection, contact tracing and, if positive, isolation,” said authorities.

Over the last week, government engaged various sectors to develop clear guidelines on epidemiological, social and economic conditions to keep people safe, and put measures in place to support business and households.

“These current regulations would be extended for a limited period, to allow for further assessments and consultations as we develop updated protocols, leading to the eventual and systemic opening up of the economy,” said authorities.

The control measures, which include a national curfew and social distancing guidelines, are often hard to cope with, but considering the prevailing circumstances, persons must be cautious and vigilant, as they continue to do their part in the fight against COVID-19.