Despite the high rate of recoveries in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), COVID-19 is continuing its march across the region with Massara being the latest indigenous community to record cases of the deadly disease, which has so far claimed three lives in Guyana’s largest region.
Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock on Wednesday told Stabroek News that the despite the high rate of COVID-19 recoveries within the region, fresh cases of COVID-19 are still being confirmed on a daily basis and as a result the coronavirus situation is far from contained. He revealed that the two recent deaths that the region recorded were from Karasabai in the South Pakaraimas District.
The two persons died three weeks ago. They were tested prior to their deaths but the tests results were not returned until a few days ago. Allicock stated that consequently, a team of doctors went into the village and brought out a number of persons who were displaying signs and symptoms of the disease and had underlying health conditions, but have not yet received their results.
According to Allicock, there are 39 active cases in the region to date. However, they are awaiting the results of over 300 persons, so the number of active cases will likely rise dramatically. To date, the region has recorded more than 243 cases of the virus, 201 of which have recovered.
Allicock also disclosed that the Indigenous community of Massara in the North Rupununi recorded four COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. He says the number of COVID-19 cases are increasing in areas such as Lethem, Karasabai and Aranaputa.
He added that doctors have taken samples from the majority of the people in the hotspots but have eased up taking samples so frequently because the amount of samples from the region have contributed to the backlog of tests. He added that they will continue taking samples but will only be doing so once a week because they also have to depend on aircraft to transport the samples to Georgetown and flights to and from the region are only available once a week.
Allicock informed that so far 954 samples have been collected.
Meanwhile, the Toshao of Potarinau Carl Albert related that the majority of the COVID-19 patients in the village along with its satellite villages, Katuur and Baitoon, have recovered. He said presently the situation is contained and they have been receiving assistance from several NGOs.
Potarinau was one of the first indigenous communities to record COVID-19 cases in Region Nine. Over 60 cases have been recorded so far in the community.
