– suspended travel also in effect for lockdown

A SEVEN-DAY quarantine period has now been made compulsory for persons entering neighbouring Suriname, whether by air or ferry.
“This is a decision that has been made by the Government of Suriname and we have just received notice of that,” Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, announced on Saturday, during a visit to the Moleson Creek end of the Guyana/Suriname ferry service.

The revised travel requirements, effective immediately, were instituted as the Dutch country continues to grapple with the spread of the novel coronavirus. Edghill explained that even with the mandatory quarantine, persons travelling to Suriname are still required to produce a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of travel.
Suriname has also released a list of hotels that have been confirmed as quarantine facilities, with an attached cost. The list has been posted to Ministry of Public Works Guyana Facebook page. Additionally, Suriname will go into a full weekend lockdown from Friday April 16, 2021 from 20:00 hours to Monday, April 19, 2021, until 05:00 hours.
“Next week Sunday, the vessel will not be allowed to travel, because part of the measures, the weekend is going into full lockdown mode, so the trip that would have been Sunday of next week, will be done on Monday,” Minister Edghill noted.

He indicated too that only Guyanese and Surinamese will be allowed to utilise the service between Moleson Creek, Berbice and South Drain Suriname.
“Diplomats and other international agencies will require special clearances through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [of both countries],” Edghill said.
The Public Works Minister confirmed too that no exemptions will be made for persons who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“I guess when sufficiently, vaccination would have penetrated the wider population, there would be some adjustments,” Edghill hoped, as he encouraged Guyanese to take full advantage of the availability of the vaccines and ensure that they become immunised.

“It is a way of protecting yourself, your family, and others,” he posited.
In addition to the weekend lockdown measures, Suriname has also implemented a strict daily curfew from Saturday April 10, 2021, to Friday April 23, 2021. During the first weekend, the curfew hours will range from 18:00 hours to 05:00 hours, and then from Monday April 12, 2021, to Friday April 16, 2021, the curfew will go from 20:00 hours and 05:00 hours.
“We regret this situation; I guess the Ministry of Health in Guyana, at the appropriate time, will advise us about what protocols we will adopt in Guyana, as a result of what is taking place,” Edghill said.

He noted that Guyanese will be kept updated, should there be and adjustments in the travel schedules for both Suriname and Guyana.
According to the global data, Suriname’s coronavirus cases have reached 9,265 and climbing. From February 2020 to present, some 178 have died, while 8,647 were fortunate enough to have recovered. According to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Suriname only received its first dose of COVID-19 vaccines on March 26 of this year. Some 24,000 doses of vaccines were provided to the country through the COVAX Facility, a global effort co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and PAHO/WHO.
“The arrival marks a historic step towards ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of the first phase of deliveries for Suriname, and more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021,” an article posted on the PAHO/WHO website informed.
It explained that in accordance with the first round of COVAX allocations, Suriname is expected to continue receiving doses through May, 2021, until it reaches 79,200, the amount specified by COVAX.

“Subsequent doses are expected to be received during the second half of the year with total doses deployed to cover up to 20 per cent of the population,” the article noted.
Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, PAHO/WHO Representative in Suriname had said that the delivery of the first tranche of vaccines is a proud moment for Suriname in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The country is very committed to securing vaccines for the people of Suriname to protect the most vulnerable and reduce deaths. We will continue to work with the country to support vaccination as well as other public health and social measures that are known to help stop the spread of COVID-19, protect health services, and save lives,” Dr. Lewis-Bell added.
As is being done in almost all parts of the world, the vaccines in Suriname will be administered on a prioritised basis to protect priority and vulnerable groups inclusive of health workers and the elderly.