President David Granger has approved a range of measures to tackle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Guyana, which includes mandatory quarantine for those infected or exposed to the disease and the destruction of personal items exposed to infection from the disease, among other actions.
Guyana recorded its fifth case of COVID-19 yesterday and from midnight last night, the country’s two international airports have been shut for 14 days.
The president, in an extraordinary publication of the Official Gazette dated March 16, cited constitutional provisions that provide for the taking of such measures. It was noted too that COVID-19 constitutes an emergency that threatens national security which requires a national response and the World Health Organi-zation has declared the disease a pandemic with Guyana also recording the presence of the disease here. Accordingly, the publication said that the president considers that immediate action is necessary to address COVID-19, which has been declared an infectious disease.
In accordance with the Public Health Ordinance and international standards to prevent and control the spread of the disease, the president has empowered Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence to undertake a series of measures.
Among these are that the Minister of Public Health shall take measures to “restrain, segregate and isolate persons suffering from the disease, or who may be likely from exposure to the infection suffer from the disease.” The minister can also move persons suffering from the disease to the hospital and provide treatment.
Additionally, the minister is empowered to “remove, disinfect, and destroy the personal effects, goods, buildings and any other article, material or thing exposed to infection from the disease.”
The minister shall also make decisions about the speedy burial or cremation of the dead; facilitate house to house visitation and inspection; facilitate the provision of medical aid and accommodation; and promote cleanliness, ventilation and disinfection. The minister can also take measures to “prevent the spread of the disease on the seas, rivers, and waters of Guyana, and on the high seas within twelve miles from baseline and well as on land.”
Further, the minister is empowered to take measures to “diagnose, prevent or check the disease, including the prohibition or restriction of movement of persons and public and private conveyances of any kind whatsoever within and to and from an infected area” and take any other measures considered necessary.
The public health minister may call upon the police and other law enforcement agencies to provide assistance with the enforcement of the aforementioned measures if necessary.
Meanwhile, the president has also directed that the Education and Citizen-ship ministers take “all measures to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19” in Guyana and the Minister of Finance is empowered to expend from the Consolidated Funds such sums of money as may be necessary for the effectual carrying out of any or all of the measures.
The order states that “all government agencies and local government authorities are urged to render assistance and cooperation to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the COVID-19 threat.”
In addition, it urged all citizens, residents, tourists, and members of the private sector to “act in accordance with the law and to comply with any lawful directives and advisories issued by appropriate government agencies to prevent further transmission of the COVID-19 and ensure the safety and well-being of all.”
“This Direction shall remain in force and effect until withdrawn by the President,” the document advised.
