MINISTER of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has disclosed that more ventilators and antigen tests will be dispatched to the regional hospitals in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in an effort to increase COVID-19 testing in the region.

Minister Anthony was at the time addressing frontline workers on Saturday at the Oscar Joseph Hospital at Charity, on the Essequibo Coast, where he noted that the decision was taken to increase testing since the figures are lower than expected in this region.

As of October 31, Region Two only had 73 known cases.
“We might have a false sense of what the actual figures are; we need more tests to be carried out… Therefore, we are providing the region with more PCR tests,” Dr. Anthony said.
Persons who are not showing symptoms of the deadly virus will also be tested, given the fact that more than half of Guyana’s over 4,000 cases are persons who are asymptomatic.
The Health Minister said that there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases, particularly in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); and One (Barima-Waini), and he is surprised that so far, the Pomeroon-Supenaam region has less than a 100.

He said the Ministry is working actively to ensure that there is adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all frontline workers.
Meanwhile, Chairwoman of Region Two, Mrs. Vilma DeSilva thanked the Minister and his team for visiting the region, as she pledged the support of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) towards the effective delivery of health services in the region.