–public transport operators, conductors also covered by this concession

THE Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has granted healthcare workers, public transport operators and conductors two more weeks to comply with the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.20), issued on July 29, 2021.

This decision follows widespread representation from stakeholders within the aforementioned fields.

“I have examined the request and wish to announce that healthcare workers, public transport operators and conductors will be given two weeks to comply with the Order,” Dr. Anthony said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening.

He added: “I wish to reiterate that the Government of Guyana has secured enough vaccines for the adult population. Guyanese have a choice of first and second dose AstraZeneca or SinoPharm and first dose Sputnik V. Additionally, the Pfizer vaccine for our children will soon be available.

“I wish to reiterate that the vaccines are safe, effective and if you are fully vaccinated, it will reduce your chances of infection, hospitalisation and death. Please protect yourself, your family and your community. Please get vaccinated!”

As part of the new COVID-19 measures, the government has decreed that unvaccinated persons will not be allowed to visit government ministries or agencies unless they make an appointment.
The new measures have also made it mandatory for all operators and conductors of public transportation to be vaccinated, and always have with them their proof of vaccination.

Members of the private sector have since lauded the new measures, and implemented some restrictions of their own. As a result, unvaccinated persons no longer have unhindered access to certain hotels, bars, restaurants and events.

Since the measures were implemented, Dr. Anthony announced that the national vaccination efforts have seen a notable increase in persons turning up to be vaccinated.

Even though Guyana’s vaccination campaign started off in a vibrant manner, Dr. Anthony said there have been a few political authors who have been peddling misinformation about the vaccines and their efficacy.

To make matters worse, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, who has already been fully vaccinated, hosted a press conference where he called for the administering of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine to be suspended, claiming that it could be fake. It is the same vaccine that he himself had been inoculated with.

Nonetheless, Harmon’s utterances were soon put to rest, as the manufacturers of the vaccine responded with documentation which attested to the authenticity of the jabs. Although unfounded, the Opposition Leader’s criticisms have caused some amount of injury to the national vaccination efforts.

Added to that, Harmon had also criticised the government for purchasing overpriced vaccines; however, President Dr. Irfaan Ali immediately responded, insisting that even though the cost of vaccines have increased due to its global demand, the PPP/C government will continue to spend whatever is necessary to protect its citizens from the virus which had already taken millions of lives.