National curfew goes back to 6pm to 6am

–  control measures extended to September 30, 72 new cases recorded

 

By Navendra Seoraj

GOVERNMENT, in recognising the rise in cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), has amended the emergency measures, as part of an effort to contain the rapid spread of the dreaded disease.
The measures, which will now last until September 30, include an extension of the national curfew, which has reverted from 21:00hrs-5:00hrs to the initial 18:00hrs to 06:00hrs.

The 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 September 30, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

It was reported that the Government of Guyana had done a rapid assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and had 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 in a previous report.
Part of the renewed approach to fighting COVID-19, includes mass testing, something which has proven successful in detecting cases which could have gone “under the radar”.

Authorities have so far tested 8,510 persons, with 7,204 being negative and 1,306 positive. Of the positive cases, 718 persons have recovered and 41 persons have lost their lives. The remaining cases include 87 persons in institutional isolation, 451 in home isolation and 12 in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

While cases have been recorded in all ten Administrative Regions, the infection rate in some regions is higher than in others. Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has been the epicentre for this disease, recording 473 cases, while Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) has recorded 237 and Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 217.

While monitoring is easier in Region Four, access to certain hinterland areas could be difficult, so government, as part of an effort to contain the spread in those regions, has restricted non-essential travel in and out of Regions Seven, Eight and Nine, until September 30.

On a national level, government has also agreed to keep the international airports closed to international travel.
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.

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