Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence yesterday announced that the number of confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country remained at five, even as 166 persons were in quarantine.
The announcement was made during an update for a second successive day by the minister after promises of daily updates.
Lawrence, during the update, revealed that a number of persons are currently quarantined by the ministry, with 31 persons under institutional quarantine, while some 135 persons are in home-quarantine.
She noted that four persons remain under institutional isolation by the ministry as she clarified that persons under quarantine are those persons who have been exposed but are not sick while persons in isolation are those persons who have been exposed and tested positive for the virus. With that, the minister also noted that the public health ministry has four facilities ready to provide services for 350 persons.
“After the 14 days of quarantine persons will be evaluated by a medical officer and based on the review will be cleared or placed on additional days of quarantine. If cleared, they will be reevaluated after seven days,” Lawrence said as she explained the steps to be taken after quarantine.
For persons in the 14 days of isolation, if no new symptoms develop within three days prior to the 15th day, the minister said they will be tested twice in 24 hours. If the results return positive they will remain in further isolation and if negative they will be cleared.
In relation to reports of a case of COVID-19 in Region Nine, the minister noted, “This is not a case for Guyana” as she stated that the persons in question did not visit Guyana for the last two weeks prior to his confirmed status or even after it was discovered. Lawrence mentioned that the health ministry is aware of a relative of the man who is also under quarantine in Brazil. “Both individuals are in Brazil,” she said while adding that health officials in the region have begun contact tracing.
However, in a letter yesterday from the Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine Carl Parker, it was noted that six relatives of the individual who has been confirmed to have the coronavirus in Bon Fim, Brazil, have informed the region’s emergency response committee that they had been in contact with him.
‘Cops to enforce social distancing campaign’
During yesterday’s update, the minister also urged persons to observe preventative measures which included social distancing, hand washing and cough etiquette and for persons to call the COVID-19 hotlines if they feel they may have symptoms of the coronavirus.
However, following a “virtual meeting” of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), it was announced that in an effort to promote social distancing, the Guyana Police Force is expected to commence a campaign to advise persons against gathering in public spaces and to discourage persons who are found doing so. The NCTF further urged persons to “decluster” and refrain from socialising.
In a press statement, the Task Force also commended the actions of the Guyana Association of Bankers on its decision to reduce banking hours. However, the task force again urged owners and operators of businesses, and most notably non-essential businesses, to adopt reasonable measures to discourage persons from gathering in large numbers and engaging in socialising, particularly at late hours into the night.
“The NCTF warns all Guyanese, particularly those in Corentyne, not to enter Suriname illegally by boat,” the statement said as it noted that those persons who do so may be subject to seizure of the vessels, engine, arrest and subsequent deportation.
It was further noted that those persons who are deported would be subject to mandatory quarantine protocols and the task force and the government cannot commit to making representation on their behalf for the return of their vessels.
