Although approximately 700 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test kits have arrived in the country, persons will not be tested unless they meet the criteria outlined by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Deputy Chief Medical Officer Karen Gordon-Boyle has said.
Gordon-Boyle told Stabroek News yesterday that the MoPH has no intention of testing persons unless they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and have been in contact with persons who have tested positive for the disease or have recently travelled from a country that is known to have cases of the respiratory disease.
MoPH received 700 COVID-19 testing kits and 400 screening kits from the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recently. PAHO/WHO country representative Dr. William Adu-Krow told Stabroek News on Monday that the tests should last for a few months. However, plans are being made to make more tests available for the country.
Experts have said that large-scale testing is key to containing the coronavirus by identifying those with it, isolating them and placing them in treatment.
The first case of the novel coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, China. The outbreak caused Chinese authorities to place the city in a total lockdown in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading. However, the disease had already made its way to countries all around the world causing the WHO to describe it as a global pandemic.
So far, there are five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guyana, inclusive of one death. Gordon-Boyle yesterday revealed that the four persons who have been tested positive for the disease will have to be tested twice before they are allowed to go out in public. “Once both tests are negative, they will be allowed to leave,” she clarified. When asked if any one of those persons have had severe symptoms of COVID-19, the DCMO said that she did not know. However, she stated, they are being treated with medication based on their symptoms. She said that if they are suffering from dry cough, the medication that is used to treat it will be administered.
She added that once those persons have fully recovered, it is possible that they can become immune to the disease although this is not guaranteed as COVID-19 is a new disease.
Guyana’s first case was confirmed on March 11th after a woman who travelled from New York to Guyana died of the respiratory disease at the George-town Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Four of her relatives, including her father and son, were diagnosed with the disease days after her death, while over 100 persons who had contact with the family have been asked to self-quarantine.
The 14-day period for the persons who were asked to self-quarantine on March 11 is expected to end today. However, Gordon-Boyle stated they will only be allowed out of self-quarantine if they fit the criteria outlined by the MoPH. She did not say what that criteria entails. The persons who were asked to self-quarantine since March 11 are the relatives of the woman who died of COVID-19 and the staff of the GPHC. One GPHC staffer who was asked to self-quarantine told Stabroek News that the MoPH will have to tell them when they can come out of quarantine. He added that health officials have been calling him daily to see if he has developed any COVID-19 symptoms.
On social media, there have been reports that 20 of the 43 GPHC staff that were asked to self-quarantine have tested positive for the disease, prompting a denial yesterday by the institution. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GHPC yesterday denied the reports, saying that up to yesterday afternoon, there were only five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.
In a statement to the press, he wrote, “The GPHC is aware of the recent circulation of a voice recording, which is alleged to be from a doctor employed by the institution. We wish to inform the general public that our investigations confirmed that this recording did not originate from anyone in the GPHC’s employ.”
The statement also said that currently it is very difficult for persons to decipher factual information from fabrications, while noting that the ability to access and utilise factual information will impact the course of the national and global crisis.
“We strongly denounce this mischievous act that not only jeopardizes the reputation of our institution, but incites unwarranted panic and skepticism in a time of national and global vulnerability,” the release stated before asking persons to rely on information directly from reputable sources, such as the MoPH, PAHO/WHO and the Centers for Disease Control.
Urging that everyone play a part in ending the pandemic, the statement advised persons to practise regular handwashing, observe good respiratory etiquette, stay at home and make contact with the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) if sick.
“If you think you have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 call 227-4986, 229-7490, 231-1166, 226-7480, 624 – 9355, 624 – 6674, 624 – 2819 or 624 – 3067,” it added.
