Following the confirmation of a case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in a Brazilian town close to Lethem in Region Nine, the newly-formed Regional Health Emergency Committee (RHEC) is seeking approval of a number of precautionary measures, including a curfew and the closing of the border with Brazil for an initial two-week period.
It is hoping to implement in the region with the approval of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) in light of the confirmed case in Bon Fim and a report by relatives of the man that they had been in contact with him.
The document, which was seen by Stabroek News, was sent to the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan. The RHEC committee comprises Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock, Mayor of Lethem John Macedo, Regional Police Commander Keithon King, Sector Commander for the Guyana Defence Force Captain Haynes, Location Commander from the Guyana Defence Force Lt. Wilson, the Town Clerk Keisha Vincent, Regional Executive Officer Carl Parker, Regional Health Officer Dr. Naiil Uthman and the Vice President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Allison Camacho along with the officer-in-charge of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) branch in Lethem.
Measures that the committee is seeking to implement include imposing a 6 pm to 6 am curfew on the residents of Region Nine, and closing the Guyana/Brazil border for two weeks, with only cargo vehicles being allowed passage on Thursdays.
In addition, it has asked that the Kurupukari Crossing be restricted to all vehicles except cargo trucks, military, police and government vehicles. Private vehicles will only be allowed to cross if they have no more than two persons in the vehicle.
Also, the document states that the Chief of Staff should be written to seeking his approval to utilise soldiers based at Lethem so as to intensify patrols of unofficial crossings near the border.
The recommendations come after Brazilian authorities confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the Brazilian town of Bon Fim, which is located close to the Takutu Bridge.
Contact tracing
The document also revealed that thus far a family of six has since informed the RHEC that the members have been in contact with the person who has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the region’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) has been interviewing the family.
Meanwhile, the father, who operates a butchery at a market and who had been plying his trade while in daily contact with customers and other vendors at the market, is in quarantine with the rest of his family in Bon Fim. The father was in daily contact with his son so the RRT is now conducting contact tracing.
“These measures, it is felt, are necessary to ensure that we safeguard, not only residents of the Rupununi but further afield as well,” the document states.
