Relatives of the 52-year-old woman who died from the Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Wednesday along with staff members of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) who were in contact with her are among dozens who have been quarantined.
The 52-year-old travelled from the United States before the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the state of New York. She arrived in the country on March 5th and admitted herself to the GPHC on Tuesday afternoon around 5pm and while she was there, she presented uncontrollable diabetic and hypertension conditions which saw her having to be resuscitated. While the resuscitation succeeded, she died at about 8 am on Wednesday. At that time, health officials attributed her death to diabetes and hypertension but after learning of her recent travel history, samples were collected and sent to the National Reference Laboratory.
The Ministry of Public Health has established hotlines that persons can call if they are experiencing symptoms linked to COVID-19. Those numbers are 227-4986 and 624-3067.
President David Granger on Wednesday night announced that the test was positive.
A source at the hospital who did not want to be named told Stabroek News yesterday that after health officials found out that the woman had travelled from New York, they gathered all staff members that were one meter away from the person along with those that had direct contact with the deceased. The doctors immediately sprayed Lysol around the area and they were asked to stand in the sun. Persons in protective gear subsequently decontaminated the entire Accident and Emergency (A&E) area. The nurses were told to dispose of their clothing after which they were sprayed with Lysol and were relocated to an enclosed room. The decontamination of the A&E unit was repeated yesterday morning.
Ministry of Public Health Public Relations Officer Terrence Esseboom told Stabroek News that more than a dozen persons are in quarantine. Persons who have been in contact with the family were also quarantined. However, tests for COVID-19 will not be conducted unless they develop symptoms linked to the disease. At the time he was contacted, Esseboom disclosed the ministry was yet to contact passengers who were on the plane that the woman travelled on.
Thirteen employees of Caribbean Airlines who were on planes with the woman have also been placed in self-quarantine. In a statement, Caribbean Airlines stated that it was informed that a passenger who traveled from John F. Kennedy, International Airport New York to Piarco International Airport, Trinidad then to Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) had died at the GPHC from COVID-19. As a result, it assured all stakeholders that the safety, security and good health of the airline’s customers and employees are its highest priorities and when the information on the passenger was received, immediate action was taken. It further said the airline has complied with protocols and have placed 13 crew members associated with the flight on self-quarantine for a period of fourteen days.
Those who are quarantined will be assessed and monitored by Ministry of Public Health officials, who have begun contacting passengers that may have been in contact with the woman.
The airline said its aircraft is cleaned daily at all ports, in keeping with industry standards. It added that it is keeping in contact with ministry and was assuring stakeholders that it will continue to monitor and respond to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, a number of staff members of Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital, who also came in contact with the deceased patient and had referred her to the GPHC, have also been quarantined. In a brief statement, the hospital said the patient had visited the hospital. She was brought in by attendants and was examined by a doctor in the Triage Area. After asking background questions and observing the symptoms being similar to those of the persons affected by COVID-19, the doctor immediately advised that the patient be taken to GPHC as the hospital does not have test kits for COVID-19 and therefore was not unable to confirm the diagnosis
As a result of the subsequent confirmation, Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital has identified all persons who may have been in contact with the patient during the brief stop and ensured that they are in quarantine and not on duty at the hospital. The persons in quarantine include the doctor who saw the patient, the nurses, and the attendants.
Schools remain open
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education in a statement said that public schools will remain open. However, teachers are asked to:
● Promote and demonstrate regular hand washing and positive hygiene behaviours and ensure that there is adequate, clean and separate toilets for girls and boys
● Ensure soap and water are available at age-appropriate hand washing stations
● Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing (at last 20 seconds)
● Place hand sanitizers in toilets, classrooms, halls and near exits.
Staff are also required to clean and disinfect all rooms in the school building, especially water and sanitation facilities, along with surfaces that are touched by many people.
●Use sodium hypochlorite at 0.5% for disinfecting surfaces and 70% ethyl alcohol for disinfecting small items.
● Trash must be disposed of daily
● Teachers should encourage students to stay home if sick.
Parents are asked to practice and reinforce good prevention habits with the family and keep child at home if sick with any illness.
● Avoid close contact with people who are sick
● If child is sick, keep them at home and contact your healthcare provider
●Talk with teachers about classrooms assignments and activities they can do from home to keep up with their homework.
Following the confirmation of the first COVID-19 case, the University of Guyana (UG) sent emails to the University of Guyana Students’ Society informing it that the campuses will remain closed until March 20. Students and staff were asked to carry on their educational activities by electronic means. However, essential staff were asked to turn out to work yesterday. They were also told to take necessary precautions against COVID-19.
Since the first imported case surfaced in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been advising persons to take the same precautionary measures as they would against the common cold to avoid contracting COVID-19. Persons are asked to:
● Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizing gel.
●When coughing and sneezing, persons are advised to cover the mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or with a tissue which must be disposed of immediately before washing the hands.
● Avoid close contact with anyone who has coughing and fever and
● Avoid frequent touching of the face, nose and eyes.
● Maintain social distancing
● Avoid shaking hands and hugging
These precautions were further emphasized by PAHO/WHO representative Dr. William Adu-Krow and Guyanese health officials at a COVID-19 symposium held at the National Cultural Centre on Wednesday.
