– balance COVID safety and economic measures, Dr. Anthony says

WHILE the proliferation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is of serious concern, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony contends that the country’s response must be equated with government’s efforts to stabilise the economy.

Thus far, proactive measures have been employed,particularly in Region Four, which has a number of active cases and in Regions One and Nine, where a number of border communities are located.

During a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Anthony emphasised that a balance is needed between public-safety measures and economic measures.

“Some countries who have locked down completely and curtailed economic activities, they now have different problems… where there is huge unemployment and lack of resources that are providing a set of challenges for those countries. We are now trying to balance two things, the economic with the safety measures. And again if people are responsible, we can do both with cooperation as a country,” he said.

Further, he stressed that it is the responsibility of all citizens to protect themselves by adhering to the COVID-19 preventative measures.

“Sometimes we look at these things in a very emotional way. Extending the curfew, whether we extend it by one or two hours, it doesn’t mean that persons have to stay on the road. So if you don’t have any business to do on the road, go home. The extension of the curfew doesn’t mean that persons must be irresponsible, it just means that business activities are allowed until 10:30pm,” he emphasised.

Minister Anthony explained that the circumstances in Region Nine where a border town is located is different and so, the COVID-19 preventative measures are different from those for other parts of the country.

“Region Nine doesn’t have a lockdown; Region Nine has movement restrictions. So it’s different, because a lockdown means that people can’t come in and go out. The reason why we have put restrictions [on] movement in Region Nine is because of its proximity to Brazil. We have had a spike in cases in Region Nine and we have been able to control that now, but we want to keep monitoring that region,” he said.

It is the minister’s belief that with the current restrictions in place in this region, the positive cases will be kept at a minimum.

He informed the Chronicle that similar restrictions are in place in Region One, given the influx of Venezuelan migrants. The migrants have been relocating to the aforementioned regions over the past few weeks.

On October 30, the government took a decision to reduce the time for the national curfew, moving it from 21:00 hrs-04:00 hrs to 22:30 hrs-04:00 hrs.

This and other 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) are expected to expire on November 30, 2020, unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions, created by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

These measures were adjusted by government following an assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the reduction in the curfew hours, gyms and fitness centres are now allowed to open at 50 percent capacity by appointments only, to minimise the risk and spread of the virus.