More than 1,000 additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing kits and 14 ventilators have been donated to Guyana by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
This was disclosed yesterday by Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence. The equipment will boost the capacity of the ministry’s level three facility – the most-well equipped hospital in the country, she said. The facility is the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Guyana now has a total of 1,800 COVID-19 testing kits available.
Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO country representative Dr William Adu-Krow told Stabroek News that he made a request for 100 more ventilators and is waiting on a response from PAHO/WHO. In addition, he revealed that other organisations like the United Nations Children’s Fund will also be donating some ventilators.
Up to yesterday, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the country remained at five including one death. The stagnant numbers have raised questions. The minister revealed that of the five, three were imported cases and two were local cases. She explained that imported cases refer to the patients who contracted the disease before travelling to Guyana while local cases refer to those persons who were infected in Guyana.
Thirty-nine persons who were exposed to the disease have been tested thus far but all the results came back negative. Also, approximately 773 calls were received by the ministry’s hotline from nine of the ten administrative regions.
Additionally, 31 persons were placed in institutional quarantine while 135 persons are in self-isolation. Lawrence added that the surveillance team is monitoring 14 additional persons while the four active cases of COVID-19 remain in institutional isolation.
In this regard, Lawrence appealed to persons calling for an investigation into quarantine facilities to desist from doing so and recognise the sensitivity of the situation. “We would like to continue to provide you with free internet access, however, if this continues, we’ll be forced to take action,” she added. Persons in quarantine are currently being provided with free internet access.
Meanwhile, Lawrence commended the regional and health officials of Region Eight for the steps they have taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. She revealed that Indigenous communities located close to the Brazilian border have established checkpoint facilities. Persons entering the country through those areas will have to log their name, contact information, travel history, medical background and destination. This system, the minister said, will allow for early reporting and response to potential COVID-19 cases in the region.
Before closing her statement, Lawrence stated that the ministry recognises the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the Americas and emphasised that persons should ensure that they adhere to the preventative measures especially social distancing and regular washing of hands.
Lawrence stressed that the National Public Health Reference Laboratory is the only facility in Guyana equipped and certified to conduct COVID-19 tests. She highlighted that the WHO is yet to identify a specific drug to treat the disease but persons will continue to be treated based on any symptoms that may be present.
