–assures citizens the authorities will continue to monitor COVID-19 pandemic

THE decision to reopen schools after the Easter Holiday, in April, is important, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has said.

Speaking during Tuesday’s edition of the COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony said that it is very important for children to return to school, since they have been out for just around two years.

“Children would have been out of school for the past two years or so, and despite our efforts to continue their education, it is not the same as if you’re in a classroom, and teachers are working directly with you,” Dr. Anthony said, adding that the Ministry of Education has reported a significant learning loss, and the reopening of schools is one way of addressing the situation.

While he noted that the pandemic is still ongoing, Dr. Anthony said that the situation has changed quite a bit.

“Fortunately, we have not been seeing a lot of cases recently, and we will continue to work and put all the measures in place to monitor and see what is going on with the pandemic in Guyana,” he said.

To this end, the health minister said that while cases are being recorded, it is not at a high rate as was observed in previous months.

Dr. Anthony said that as schools reopen, the Ministry of Education will ensure that measures are in place to reduce transmission of the virus, so that there wouldn’t be an increase in cases.