–Min. Anthony appeals, if Guyana is to take the fight to COVID-19 and win

MINISTER of Health Dr. Frank Anthony on Sunday called on each and every Guyanese to recognise that the only way to beat this coronavirus is by collectively and consistently following the health guidelines.

Sharing the ‘hot-seat’ on the televised programme, Government in Focus, Minister Anthony, who made his contribution to the conversation by way of Zoom, spoke on what his ministry has been doing since the new administration took office to ensure the safety of all Guyanese.
He said that through the generous donations of benefactors such as China and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO, the Ministry of Health has been able to have access to adequate supplies vital to the fight against the novel coronavirus, codenamed (COVID-19). He said that the Ministry of Health is also employing the use of government resources to purchase some additional equipment and supplies to aid in the fight.

“In terms of the mobilisation of resources,” Dr Anthony said, “the President and Prime Minister have been very proactive in that direction, talking to the varying countries, and helping us to mobilise those resources, so that we can have enough of these PPE in the country.”
He said that over the last few days, there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases, noting that this is largely due to the fact that the ministry has significantly increased the number of tests being done countrywide.
He made the point that it’s not the number of tests being done, but identifying the positive cases there are is what really matters in the fight against COVID-19.
“I want people to understand that by finding more positives,” Dr Anthony said, “we are able to take action; and that the actions that we are taking is isolating people so that they are not in contact to continue the transmission. And this is very important.”
He further said that the general public should make a concerted effort to ensure that if they are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, they follow the self-isolation guideline and contact the COVID-19 hotline to seek testing.
As to how Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Hugh Todd, and Minister of Tourism, Ms. Oneidge Walrond-Allicock have been doing since testing positive for COVID-19 recently, Minster Anthony said he has been in touch with them both, and while they are still “asymptomatic”, they are doing fine otherwise. He went on to explain that neither minister knew they had contracted the virus, until they did the precautionary test. He said that since finding out their status, they’ve both placed themselves in self-isolation, so as to minimise the spread of the virus.

TAKING PRECAUTION
He said that in addition to identifying who’s positive or not, precautionary measures are an extremely important in the fight against COVID-19, hence the necessity of ensuring the distribution of PPE resources to the relevant personnel.
He said that on that score, the Ministry Of Health has made it its duty to procure and distribute goggles, face shields, masks, both surgical and N-95 gowns, and foot covers to the country’s many frontline workers who would need to protect themselves so they can continue to deliver quality care.
He said, too, that the ministry has been working with the models for predicting potential positive cases here, and preparing and putting systems in place in the event of such an occurrence.

He said that while the main facility for accommodating COVID-19 patients has been the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the Ministry of Health has been exploring regional hospitals, and looking at how it can increase their capacity and readiness to handle some of the cases, so that not all the severe cases have to come to Georgetown.

Minister Anthony said that while there is no decision at this time to effect a lockdown, even with the number of positive cases rising daily, the ministry, along with the national task force is conducting assessments and formulating strategies and systems in the event that a lockdown becomes necessary. He said that as it relates to a budget for the Ministry of Health, he has been given every assurance by both the President and Prime Minister that whatever is needed to fight the disease and flatten the curve will be placed at the disposal of his ministry