Following spikes in COVID-19 infections, the government yesterday announced that no one will be allowed into or out of Moruca in Region One and the mining area of Aranka/Arangoy Landing in Region Seven without the permission of the Minister of Public Health.
The announcement came as the government proceeded with the second phase of its six-phase plan to rollback measures that were implemented to curb the spread of the virus that has so far taken the lives of 14 persons here.
In its latest update, the Ministry of Public Health Public said that there are 78 cases of the virus in Region One – a rapid escalation – and 36 in Region Seven.
The updated COVID-19 emergency measures, which have been gazetted, include special measures for Moruca and Aranka/Arangoy Landing, where persons are not permitted to leave until July 16th, 2020. Mask wearing is now mandatory while in public in the two areas.
Under the special measures, the Joint Services have been tasked with coordinating, mobilising and securing quarantine and isolation facilities, materials and goods and services at those sites, and manning screening and test check-points as well as providing escort for mobile teams.
Specific demarcated coordinates were given for the Aranka/Arangoy Landing and Moruca areas and the gazetted measures specifically stipulate that “No person shall travel into or out of the areas listed in the Schedule during the period 3rd July 2020 to the 16th July, 2020 without the authorisation of the Minister of Public Health”.
For the Aranka/Arangoy Landing areas, the measures cover all mining sites and residents within a 10 km (about a 6.2 Miles) radius.
There have been a number of cases of COVID-19 at Aranka and there have been calls to the government to remove mining as an essential service over concerns that miners could potentially transmit the virus in areas which are close to indigenous communities.
The measures cover the entire Moruca sub-district. However, little mining activity occurs at Moruca.
Not closed
Meanwhile, even as the main local miners’ association highlighted that the order was specific to only the locations named, a multi-stakeholder team was preparing last evening to be deployed to the areas to ensure enforcement.
“The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners (GGDMA) wishes to clarify that mining is NOT closed. The Government has NOT ordered all interior mining operations to cease. Mining remains listed as an essential service. COVID-19 lockdown measures for closure of mining are ONLY in effect for areas within the Aranka/Arangoy Landing and surrounding areas and for the Moruca area,” the GGDMA said in a statement.
It added that essential services still include businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of mining and petroleum materials and products (e.g. metals and minerals such as bauxite, gold and diamonds); mining and petroleum development operations, production and processing; mineral and petroleum exploration and development; mining and petroleum supply and services that support supply chains in the mining and petroleum industries.
Masks mandatory
Meanwhile, the measures state that persons living within the designated hinterland areas are now required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth when in public, that gatherings should not exceed five persons and that physical distancing of six feet between persons should apply. Further, government buildings, landings, means of transportations and conveyances are to be sanitized by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
The measures further state that business operators in the areas must ensure that hand washing stations or sanitising equipment are placed at the entrance of the premises and every person entering must sanitise their hands before entering. Further, they say that wherever practicable employees and visitors must maintain physical distancing of no less than six feet from each other. Masks are also mandatory for all persons in work places and at business premises.
Additionally, the measures also stipulate that persons with flu-like symptoms or respiratory symptoms in the two areas are not permitted to go to work, and if they are at work, are not permitted to remain at work, or enter the business premises, and the Ministry of Public Health must be notified about them.
The measures also say that where the Ministry of Public Health considers it necessary, it may test any person who resides in any of the two areas for coronavirus and quarantine, isolate and treat them. Any person who tests positive for the coronavirus shall be placed in controlled isolation.
GGMC support
Commissioner of the GGMC Newell Dennison told this newspaper yesterday that his agency was preparing to lend support to ensure that there were no breaches of the restrictions.
He said that there is a special committee that is addressing the issue and there is a team to be deployed that consisted of persons from several agencies. The special committee is comprised of persons from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Communities, the Ministry of Public Health, the Civil Defence Commission and the GGMC.
“A multi-stakeholder team that is addressing the activities that is targeted for the area in regions Seven and One,” Dennison said.
“We are going to give support to the multi-stakeholder team,” he added.
