Expressing alarm over the “cavalier” approach of some Guyanese to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the authorities have warned that a lockdown could be imposed to combat the spread of the deadly virus with this also being recommended by the top World Health Organization (WHO) official here.
Dr William Adu-Krow, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO representative in Guyana, lamented yesterday that Guyanese are not taking social distancing seriously and told Stabroek News in an interview that he has written to the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) recommending a partial lockdown of the country in order to prevent an outbreak of the deadly virus here. Social distancing is a key recommendation of the WHO to combat the spread of the disease, which has claimed thousands of lives worldwide and continues to overwhelm countries’ healthcare systems even in developed states.
“The schools are closed, the airports are closed but all this makes no sense if we do not adhere to precautionary measures,” Dr Adu-Krow told Stabroek News. “I really hope they consider my recommendation,” he added.
He clarified that in a partial lockdown, hospitals and other health-related business will remain open with no restrictions while other businesses will have to close at a certain time.
Meanwhile, the NCTF, chaired by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, yesterday said that it is “seriously concerned” that too many citizens and businesses have been ignoring the public advisories and warnings and have been going about their daily activities as normal and operating in a business-as-usual manner.
“The NCTF warns that such a cavalier approach by some citizens can seriously impair the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and have a devastating impact on the Guyanese populace,” it said in a statement issued by the Department of Public Information.
“As such the NCTF is both monitoring the conduct of the citizenry and considering various measures, including extreme measures, which have been instituted in other countries, to impose restrictions on the movement of persons for a defined period until the threat is abated,” the statement said.
In his interview with Stabroek News, Dr Adu-Krow noted that some persons in Guyana are still not adhering to precautionary measures that have been outlined by the WHO, which includes social distancing. He said that it doesn’t matter if a person knows whether they are infected with the disease because ultimately, everything boils down to social distancing.
“If a person has tested positive for COVID-19, they have to be isolated and if a person doesn’t want to become infected with the disease, they have to practice social distancing,” he said, before adding that the first few cases here have proven that some people are not likely to remain at home even though they have the disease. He explained that the few positive cases in the country did not adhere to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) instructions to remain at their home. Instead, they went wherever they could, which resulted in them being placed in mandatory isolation at a facility in the city.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Guyana stands at five, inclusive of one death. The other four persons are in isolation.
12 ventilators
Dr Adu-Krow further said that he believes people should be tested but observed that there are not enough test kits available to do so. The shortage of test kits, he said, is an issue all over the world even in first world countries. He highlighted that all those countries have since developed criteria, which have to be met, for a person to be tested. Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence said yesterday in a briefing, “There is an adequate supply of testing kits and [Personal Protective Equipment] for our medical personnel. The country received 700 testing kits recently from PAHO/WHO.”
In Guyana, Dr Adu-Krow said, even if a person is asymptomatic, once they had contact with person who tested positive for COVID-19, they will be tested. He explained that the husband of Guyana’s first COVID-19 victim did not show any symptoms related to the disease but was still tested because he was in contact with the victim. However, the PAHO/WHO Rep said, for someone experiencing flu-like symptoms, if they go to a health facility, they will be screened for Influenza A and B. If those tests are negative, they will tested for COVID-19. PAHO/WHO has assisted the government in acquiring 400 screening kits for Influenza A and B, which arrived recently. In an
earlier interview, Dr Adu-Krow had stated that Guyana has enough screening kits for this.
Additionally, he revealed that none of the COVID-19 cases recorded here have shown any severe or critical symptoms thus far, so there was no need for ventilators; although given that the country has about 12 of the machines at the moment, if an outbreak occurs, there will be need for more. The PAHO/WHO official said that he is currently in discussion with the MoPH about the number of ventilators they may need in the event of an outbreak. He said that PAHO/WHO will be assisting the government in acquiring those ventilators.
Dr Adu-Krow also stated that once a person has recovered from COVID-19, they will become immune. He said that WHO researchers injected COVID-19 into monkeys and after the animals recovered, they injected them again but the monkeys were not affected by the virus.
However, there is still the question of how long the immunity will last, Dr Adu-Krow said. He highlighted that in other cases, once a person gets infected with a disease and recover, they will become immune to that particular disease for life or just for a few months after which they can contract it again.
Meantime, Lawrence disclosed yesterday that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country remains at five. On March 11, a 52-year-old woman died of COVID-19, which resulted in a number of persons being quarantined. Four of the 52-year-old woman’s relatives have since tested positive for the virus and are currently in mandatory isolation. Of the five, four of the patients are adults under the age of 60 while one is a child.
Lawrence said there are nine persons under mandatory quarantine. She added that initially, there were seven persons of interest that the ministry was keeping track of but they were able to eliminate six so there is only one person of interest currently.
In addition, she stated that all persons who were asked to self-quarantine will be getting psychosocial support from the ministry’s Mental Health Unit, which will be working alongside the Ministry of Social Protection.
Lawrence said that the number of calls that the ministry’s hotline received as of March 24, were 543. Of these, 90 per cent came from Region Four.
Pillars
She said that since the first case was confirmed, the Health Emergency Operations Centre continues to implement the national strategic plan, which includes meeting every 48 hours for updates, in an effort to monitor the COVID-19 situation and mitigate the spread of the disease. Regional preparedness efforts are also ongoing.
Additionally, Lawrence said, the ministry is continuously educating the public about COVID-19 and have translated those messages in four Indigenous languages: Wapichan, Macushi, Akawaio and Patamona. She said they are also working on translating those messages for the migrant population in Guyana and for persons with disabilities.
The MoPH has been working closely with PAHO/WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the International Organization for Migration, members of the diaspora, among others. Locally, they have been working with the Rotary Club.
Lawrence said that the ministry is looking at WHO intervention pillars, which includes risk communication and community engagement activities; surveillance; rapid response teams and case investigations; points of entry; national reference laboratory; infection prevention and control; case management and operational support and logistics.
An update on COVID-19 will be provided daily by the MoPH at 12:00 hours.
Meantime, the NCTF yesterday also informed that it continues to monitor the situation and will recommend and take further measures as are advisable and appropriate. The task force has hosted multiple virtual planning meetings to continue the coordination of work as Guyana intensifies efforts to combat the spread of the disease.
On Tuesday, the NCTF updated President David Granger and other ministers on the work that it has been doing. “…several measures were proposed and discussed. A menu of fiscal measures was approved and the Minister of Finance Hon. Winston Jordan and the Guyana Revenue Authority have been tasked with making the requisite public announcements,” the statement said.
