The Regional Health Officer (RHO) of the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Region Nine, on Tuesday said that there are only six active cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the region.
The active cases, according to the RHO, Dr Naail Uthman, were the ones recorded on Tuesday. Those cases were recorded in Tabatinga, Kwatamang, Massara and Lethem.
He noted that Kwatamang in the North Rupununi has recorded its first COVID-19 case. “Please note that it [COVID-19] has spread to another village in the North Rupununi. We must continue to take all the measures to ensure that regional spread is minimized and eventually stopped. Wash and sanitize your hands, continue using a facemask and limit your movement to other villages. Please do not travel to Brazil,” he warned.
According to the statement, the region had recorded a total of 327 cases of which 317 have recovered. Four persons from the region have died after contracting the disease.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock also confirmed that there are only six active cases while explaining that as a result of the backlog of tests, many of the persons who would have tested positive for the disease had spent several weeks in quarantine and so when the results came back they would’ve already been considered recovered as they had been isolated for more than the required days after their samples were taken.
In addition, he stated that cases from communities in the South Central Rupununi have all recovered and hotspots have shifted to the North Rupununi. This is because persons in that area continue to travel to communities affected by the disease and also to Brazil.
He informed that mass swabbing has been discontinued and the health department has adopted the Ministry of Health’s criteria. “We will only be taking samples from persons who have symptoms now,” he said while noting that tests results are returning faster.
