As part of the government’s recently launched “Operation COVI-CURB,” which has been to initiated to ensure compliance with the measures to stem the transmission of COVID-19, Prime Minister Mark Phillips yesterday carried out a mask distribution exercise in the Stabroek Market area.
During the exercise, Phillips, who was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd, interacted with members of the public about COVID-19.
“Operation COVI-CURB,” an initiative being carried out by the government in collaboration with the private sector, civil society groups and volunteers, uses education, moral suasion and enforcement to ensure that the public complies with the gazetted COVID-19 measures.
Under the gazetted order, it is mandatory for persons to wear a face mask in public spaces. However, public compliance with the mandate has not been uniform, while Guyana’s COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to climb.
In a statement issued on its Facebook page, the Office of the Prime Minister said that Phillips was heartened by the response received during the exercise. “Most of the people, maybe 99 percent of the people that we interacted with out here had on a mask, and I am heartened by that,” the statement quoted Phillips as saying.
Since the start of the operation, which began on October 1st, Phillips said that there has been a significant increase in awareness activities to ensure that the public complies with the COVID-19 guidelines. “I think we are doing well and the message is being passed on to the people …it is gaining momentum and that is what we wanted,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Minister Todd encouraged people to never get too comfortable, the statement said. “You have to always keep your guard up, sometimes you’re in environments where you think that you don’t need to wear a mask, but it’s not offensive to keep your mask on,” he said.
Todd himself had tested positive for the virus in August shortly after his swearing in.
He noted that the virus does not discriminate and urged persons to protect themselves and those around them. “I think people need to understand that even if you’re around people that you… feel comfortable with, it’s a mark of respect to wear your mask and to ensure that others wear their mask also,” Todd added.
