There has been an upsurge in coronavirus cases in Guyana. As of the time of writing, there have been 250 confirmed cases, 117 recoveries and 14 deaths. There were a few weeks when there were no deaths, very few new cases and we therefore seemed to be flattening the curve. However, suddenly regions One and Seven have become hotspots, with over 70 cases in Region One and over 30 in Region Seven. Region Four remains the region with the highest number of confirmed cases at 105. There were two deaths this week – two men, who were 34 and 42.
Sections of our society have blamed those who have not been adhering to the measures in place to curb the virus for the continued spread. Not everyone is choosing to wear a mask. Not everyone is observing the curfew and not everyone has chosen to self-isolate in instances where they can.
Last weekend people gathered on the seawall to socialise. From the images I saw it seemed like the old days when this contagious virus was not a threat. They were heavily criticised. I was told it was not the first weekend with such a gathering.
Since the recent rise in cases, some people have been calling for a full lockdown, while emphasising that this should have occurred since April. A full lockdown would mean that people should not leave their homes except for essential services like groceries and medical treatment.
Since April, Guyana has had a curfew from 6pm to 6am. Schools have been closed. Religious institutions are not allowed to hold gatherings. Many businesses remain closed. Many businesses that are open are ensuring that customers wash or sanitise their hands before entering, that customers are wearing masks, and some are even checking their customers’ temperatures at their doors and only letting in a certain number of them at a time. The airports are closed except for special flights.
Some believe that a lockdown for a couple of weeks in the early days would have made significant impact. I don’t know that it would have. Though the virus remains a serious threat and we have lost fourteen people, I think we have managed fairly well, judging the circumstances. What, however, is fear-provoking is that there might be many others who are infected but asymptomatic and if the worst happens, we might not be equipped to handle hundreds of cases at the same time, which may result in many fatalities. These are valid fears for we have seen the devastation this virus has caused in other countries.
So, what do we do? How practicable is it to lockdown Guyana for a period? What if the spread of the virus continues for a year or two? What would it mean for the business community? What would it mean for education? What would it mean for the religious institutions? What would it mean for mental health?
With a world in chaos, if this global pandemic persists for a year or two, I believe people will rebel. They may become desensitised to the images of those who have suffered and the faces of the dead. People may be willing to sacrifice their health and life via a revolution for some semblance of norm, and some glimpse of life as we knew it pre-COVID-19.
With the measures that have been in place here since April, there are social impacts:
Education: Children are not in the classroom. While many have had the privilege of participating in schooling via online classes, there are many children who have been left behind.
Religion: The religious community cannot gather for weekly services. Many people depend on their religious families for spiritual and psychosocial support. I am aware that some religious institutions are engaged in online services, but still it does not equate to gathering in one place.
Recreation: The bars are closed. The cinemas are closed. The nightclubs are closed. Even though many restaurants open during the day, people cannot dine in. Hotels are without guests. Nightlife is dead because of the curfew. We are social beings.
Psychological health: “Depressed” is a word I have heard quite often in the last few months. Certainly, it is not surprising that many people would be when for months all they have mostly seen are the walls of their homes. Death is in the air and our political situation is adding to the distress.
Employment: While some of us are fortunate that our jobs have not been affected by COVID-19, there are those who have lost income. Many people are uncertain about the future. Some are frustrated and wish to return to work.
There are citizens who are struggling to feed their families and pay their bills. It is easy for those who do not have to worry about maintaining their way of life to say lockdown the country. A father or mother cannot tell their children that they cannot work because of a lockdown and that the children will have to wait until coronavirus passes to eat. Let us hope that no one dies of starvation during this time.
While many people have received assistance, is it sustainable for the long term?
Social ills also threaten our society during this timeMany parents and other family members who are now at home, many who may have lost their income and are frustrated will choose to unleash their frustrations by hurting the children around them.
A society where people are compelled to continue living in isolation will eventually reach a point of crisis. While many were critical of the people on the seawall last weekend, I could not criticise them. It is human nature to socialise. We were not born to live in isolation. No one was prepared for these changes that occurred within a short time.
To curb the virus the individual will have to choose to act responsibly and then ensure that their families act responsibly. If we all choose to do our part by maintaining the recommended safety practices, then the village will heal together. The country cannot remain permanently on even a partial lockdown. When would we recover from the economic crisis?
If the coronavirus outbreak continues for another year or two, there will have to be ways to work around it. There will have to be systems put in place for people to return to work, for children to return to school and for businesses to operate.
COVID-19 has changed the world. Whether the worst has passed, only time will tell but a new order is here. It is about survival. The strong must help carry the weak. It is a time to observe and a time for awareness. It is a time to be in tuned with the power that is within. It is a time for the people to take charge as their existence is under threat.
