WHEN the COVID-19 pandemic first struck Guyana, this column had carried an article on safety measures that should be taken against it.  Since then, millions of persons worldwide have died from it and in Guyana, we have lost over 1,000, with thousands more infected.  A few months ago, there was talk of the pandemic gradually subsiding, and there was a modicum of optimism that it would have been reduced to a normal, manageable infection such as the ‘flu.’   Fortunately, in Guyana, we  had not experienced the understandable and distressing terror that had overcome other countries where hundreds or thousands of persons died every day and the infection seemed beyond control.

The success of Guyana in being comparatively equilibrial in the face of the onslaught of the pandemic was simply because of good management.  The country very early confronted it by taking safety measures: universal mask-wearing, distancing, vaccination, lockdowns, one only permitted to visit public offices or shops except one had taken the usual precautions, limiting the attendance at social functions such as weddings, funerals and church services and so on.  The greatest achievement was the success in accessioning adequate supplies of vaccines and inoculating over 70 percent of the adult population with at least one dose.  Other Third World countries have suffered grievously owing to their inability to secure adequate quantities of vaccines for their populations and have vociferously accused the Developed Countries of hoarding vaccines. An example may be given of the type of challenges Third World countries face:  The Ministry of Health purchased some Sputnik vaccines from a private dealer at a higher price than the Russian producers’ price since the Russian producers could not have supplied for many months and recommended the seller. The ministry had the choice between saving money and risking the deaths of thousands of Guyanese. It chose to preserve  Guyanese lives by timely acquisition, but opened itself to accusations of corruption since it had bought at the dearer price.

The creeping complacency affecting Guyanese has now been shattered by the onslaught of Omicron, a new virus related to COVID-19, but far more infectious.  Omicron and other variants and mutations have reached Guyana in full force and many more persons per day are dying and being infected than formerly.  Many more irrespective of age, race, religion or class, are contracting the disease and the struggle will have to begin all over again.  Fortunately, the energy and dedication of those responsible for fighting the pandemic have not waned.

Accordingly, we will reiterate the precautions to protect oneself and family and associates: Those who have only the first dose of the vaccine should quickly go and receive the second dose and those who have been fully vaccinated should receive a booster.  Though being vaccinated greatly protects one from the disease, it is not a watertight guarantee, but if a vaccinated person happens to be infected, the attack is milder and not fatal.  One should wear a mask when meeting other persons and should keep social distancing of three feet;  should wash hands regularly, soaping all around the hand and between fingers;  should sterilise the hands regularly;  should wash clothes and hair after one being in crowded places such as markets;  and emphatically, should reject the unscientific fabrications as to why one should not take the vaccine.  Those persons who have so far rejected being vaccinated now do so at greater risk to themselves and their families, since Omicron and the variants and mutations are more infectious and deadly. One could only stay safe if one dutifully obeys the protocols of safety.