One year since COVID-19 struck
The Georgetown Public Hospital has had several coronavirus cases and deaths during the past 12 months (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)
The Georgetown Public Hospital has had several coronavirus cases and deaths during the past 12 months (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)

By Francis Quamina Farrier

AT this time last year — early March 2020 — none of us quite knew that our lives, as we knew it, would be turned up-side-down. None of us, at that time, knew that a pandemic was about to surge across the world and that a year later, over 114.7 million people globally, would be sick with the disease. No one could have imagined that over 2.5 million people would be dead due to that devastating disease during the period of a year. Not one of us could have predicted such a catastrophe would have happened. COVID-19 protocols were established by the World Health Organization (WHO) which were adopted by the Guyana health authorities. The principals were: wear a face mask, wash hands regularly, keep a distance of at least six feet from others.

Guyana lost quite a number of its citizens to the coronavirus; 197 so far here in Guyana, and an unknown number of Guyanese who were resident in the USA, the UK, Canada and many other countries scattered across the globe. The official figure of COVID-19 fatalities in Guyana is now given as 197. It can be safely stated, that with better discipline by Guyanese here in Guyana, that figure would have been much lower. Over the past year, I have written many articles about the spread of the coronavirus in a number of countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand and others. From our own continent, South America, I have written about the devastation which COVID-19 is doing in neighbouring Brazil, especially with the Indigenous population. Other countries in South America which I have written about include Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Chile. As you know, Brazil has recorded the highest number of coronavirus deaths in South America; 255,000 at this time and counting.

Other South American countries with high death figures include Colombia with 59,800 and Argentina with 52,000. While Guyana has recorded 197 deaths at the time of writing this article, Suriname has recorded 173 coronavirus deaths. The death figure of Trinidad and Tobago, which has a much higher population than both Guyana and Suriname, is just 139. However, the death figure of sister CARICOM nation, Jamaica, is 406. The good news is that most of the smaller CARICOM countries have very small or no coronavirus deaths. For example, Grenada has recorded only a single death. Dominica, St. Kitts/Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla have all recorded zero deaths so far from the COVID-19. While they are tiny islands, they must certainly have been doing the right things as regards the coronavirus, from day one.

Since being appointed Minister of Health some months ago, Dr. Frank Anthony has had the fight against the coronavirus on the front burner of his ministerial activities. Regular updates via the media are disseminated to the public. The Ministry of Health has been carrying out many outreach programmes, especially in the hinterland regions. A recent DPI release stated that “Guyana to receive 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines in coming days.” Which of course, is good news for the Guyanese people.

An area of great pride for Guyana and Guyanese as a whole in relation to COVID-19, is the production of a vaccine by the Pfizer company. Its principal research scientist, Guyana-born Vidia Surendra Roopchand, who hails from the Essequibo island of Wakenaam, has wide experience in scientific research. The 53-year-old received his early education at the San Souci Methodist school, Wakenaam, the Anna Regina Multilateral School, Essequibo Coast and the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus. Roopchand migrated to New York in 1990 where he continued his higher education at Columbia University. The Guyanese scientist has been working at the Pfizer company for 27 years and expressed the view that “What we’re doing here, matters.”

Speaking about those who receive the Pfizer vaccine, Roopchand stated that there will be some side-effects such as feeling fatigued or experiencing headaches, chills, or muscle pains shortly after. Those physical reactions, “Just means that your immune system is working.” he explained. Scientist Roopchand has had wide experience working in many parts of the world, including countries in Africa where he worked with patients of polio and other diseases.

We can now look back over the past 12 months and realise how we were able to survive what was a totally unexpected and extremely difficult health and social challenge. We found it necessary to adjust our every move to ensure that we did not become a victim of the coronavirus during 2020. Now within the third month of 2021, we are not out of the woods as yet and as such, we need to remain vigilant and continue to observe all the recommended COVID-19 protocols. Continue to wear face masks that cover both the mouth and nose. We need to continue to wash our hands regularly, especially after holding foreign objects such as doorknobs in public places. We also need to stay away from crowded places. With such discipline, Guyana would be rid of the coronavirus sooner rather than later.

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