Passengers subjected to a second PCR COVID-19 test after arriving in Guyana are no longer required to wait at the airport for their COVID-19 test results but are asked to isolate themselves after arriving at their final destination until they receive their results.
The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri yesterday welcomed its first commercial flight after being closed for seven months as a precaution to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Newcomer to the Miami/Guyana route, Eastern Airlines touched down at approximately 12.45pm with 46 passengers. Thirteen of the passengers were subjected to a second COVID-19 test upon arrival.
CJIA board member Dr Amarnauth Dukhi told Stabroek News that passengers, after leaving the airport are asked to self-isolate and quarantine themselves until they receive their results. He noted that while the results are expected to be provided in 4-6 hours, all passengers will be notified within a 24-hour time frame. He stated too that once a passenger is tested positive they will work to inform that person within a 4-6- hour time slot.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle last night told Stabroek News that port health authorities will contact passengers. She explained that if a person is tested positive, that person is recorded in the Ministry of Health data system. Depending on the home situation, the health officials will determine if the person can be quarantined at home. If the situation does not permit, the surveillance team will have the positive person quarantined at a government facility or a private facility.
Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works who has the responsibility for the sector along with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, as well as members of the new board were all present to welcome and observe the effectiveness of the health measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus.
Edghill said from what he has observed the protocols were followed and the system proved to have worked.
The minister added that the reopening of the airport as of the 12th of October 2020 is a “bold and crucial” step towards bringing some semblance of normalcy to persons’ livelihoods although doing so with great care and much safety in mind.
“As a proactive Government, we cannot sit idly by and continue to do nothing or continue to embrace with folded arms the onslaught of COVID-19. It is imperative that we act now to bring some stability to key sectors before it is too late,” he noted.
The re-opening of the airport and the country’s borders, Edghill posited, should be seen as an extension of continued aviation activities and flights to Guyana which will certainly bring several positive benefits to the people of Guyana. These benefits include the stimulation of economic activities which are dependent on aviation industry such as accommodation and restaurants. He also stated that with the reopening, many persons will be able to return to work or gain employment.
Passengers entering Guyana are required to present a negative PCR test for COVID-19 done within seventy-two hours of travel. This allows them to exit the airport and be on their way home after clearing Port Health Authorities, Immigration, and Customs.
As a second option, passengers will also be allowed entry into Guyana if they are able to present a negative PCR results of a test taken within four to seven days (4-7) of travel. However, they will be required to do another test upon arrival in Guyana after which the passenger will be free to proceed to their homes or hotels where they will remain isolated. Reports will be relayed to all passengers within 24 hours.
The minister explained that the negative PCR test result will have to be shown to the airline operator during the check-in process at the airport of embarkation. And, subsequently, the negative PCR test result will also have to be shown to the Port Health Officials upon arrival to Guyana’s Airports (CJIAC or EFCIA).
Eastern Airlines departed Guyana for New York yesterday on the first outgoing commercial flight and will return today at 2.30pm with a flight of 213 passengers from New York.
Chief Executive Officer of Eureka Medical Laboratory Andrew Boyle, whose company is tasked with performing the CPR test said they will be placing an additional 15 employees at the airport today to ensure the process flows smoothly.
Asked if his laboratory has the capacity to meet the demand, the CEO responded in the positive and stated that their labs, which are on track to obtaining international accreditation for their COVID-19 test, has the capacity to conduct approximately 2,000 test per day.
He mentioned that they have ramped up their orders for materials and a part of the shipment is expected to arrive shortly.
Boyle also disclosed that the company is seeking additional funding from the banks to improve their COVID-19 service to the public. However, he noted that they have been hitting some road blocks to secure financing since they do not have any government contracts to submit to the bank to illustrate what the money will be invested in.
As the Eugene F. Correia International Airport (EFCIA) prepares to reopen, the CEO said that they have also erected testing booths at that airport and are prepared to offer the service.
In a statement yesterday, Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) said that EFCIA held an onsite meeting at the Airport’s International Terminal with officials of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), Eureka Medical Laboratory (EML) and the Chairman and Management of the Airport, to review the arrangements in place for the opening of the Airport to international commercial flights.
The statement said that the EFCIA, in collaboration with Eureka Medical Laboratory, will be fully equipped to carry out the sampling for the PCR COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving at the Airport when the Airport opens today.
The following persons participated in the meeting:
Michael O. Correia (Jnr), Chairman of the Board, Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI)
Col (Ret’d) Anthony Mekdeci, Chief Executive Officer & Project Coordinator, OAI
Abraham Doris, Director of Aviation Safety and Security (ag), GCAA
Karen Gordon-Boyle, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health
Andrew Boyle, Chief Executive Officer, Eureka Medical Laboratory
Kit Nascimento, Public Communications Consultant, OAI
