The daughter of the woman who died from the Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation recently displayed mild symptoms of the disease while she was in New York but was still allowed to travel here by the state’s Health Department.
This was disclosed by the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) representative here Dr. William Adu-Krow during an interview with Stabroek News yesterday. He said the New York Health Department said that they had given her the “ok” to travel. He indicated that she might have been tested while in United States but they have not been privy to the results of tests.
He added that although she hasn’t been tested in Guyana it is likely she would be soon. For now, he said, she is being monitored every day by health officials to see if she develops any symptoms linked to COVID-19, while noting that she has not displayed anything significant while in quarantine. “She hasn’t been tested yet because we have strict guidelines of testing; she either has to have fever and cough or fever and shortness of breath,” he noted.
He explained that the criteria required for a person to be tested is to have either fever, cough or respiratory symptoms and the person would’ve been in contact with a person who had tested positive or recently traveled from a country where there is a widespread outbreak. He went on to disclose that a team visited yesterday morning to take a sample from the daughter and depending on the outcome she may have to be tested. “They are already taking specimens on the side of caution,” he stated. In the meantime, however, he said, she will have to be in quarantine for the next 14 days but they will be actively monitoring her.
Dozens of persons are in quarantine after the 52-year-old woman who travelled to Guyana from the United States succumbed to COVID-19 at the GPHC on Wednesday. Eighteen of those persons are relatives of the woman while at least forty persons are staff and persons who came into contact with the woman at the GPHC.
Thus far none of those in quarantine has developed symptoms relating to COVID-19, Adu-Krow has disclosed. In relation to those persons who came into contact with the woman at Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital, he said, they are still investigating that matter.
He added that the number of persons they will be asking to place themselves in quarantine will most likely increase as they have not yet been able to trace the persons that the 52-year-old had contact with on the plane. Adu-Krow added that persons who sat next to her or two seats away from her in all directions will have to be contacted while noting that the one index case can potentially put over 80 persons in quarantine.
Luckily, he said, the Ministry of Public Health was able to trace the places that she visited while in the country and he was relieved to hear that she did not partake in Phagwah activities as that would have been another issue entirely.
Meanwhile, contrary to reports, Adu-Krow said, everyone including the relatives of the 52-year-old willingly cooperated with the Ministry when they heard that she was COVID-19 positive. “News reports are saying they are arguing that their mother and their family doesn’t have COVID-19. It’s not true. They cooperated with staff who went there. In fact (the Civil Defence Commission) CDC, because they are not allowed to go out, CDC is now providing them with basic hygiene kits and food items so they have cooperated with us very well,” he said.
He added that he was being asked if it is true there is a case of COVID-19 in the country and he must say that it is true. “Why would we say that we have a case and we don’t have a case? He asked before adding that they are not trying to create havoc in the country.
“So people should have confidence in what we are doing,” he said.
The Ministry of Public Health has also established COVID-19 hotline numbers (227-4986 and 624-3067), where persons can seek information and guidance.
