The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday confirmed the deaths of two more persons who tested positive for COVID-19, taking the country’s death toll to 126.
In a statement, the MoH only identified the latest fatalities as a 48-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 67 year man from Region One (Barima-Waini), who died while receiving care at its medical facility.
Up to yesterday, when a total of 19 more COVID-19 cases were confirmed from the results of 258 tests, Guyana confirmed a total of 4,162 cases.
Citing the over deaths recorded since the PPP/C took office at the start of August and the rapidly rising number of cases, the main opposition APNU+AFC yesterday once again accused the government of “bungling” the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The bungling of the management of the spread of COVID-19 by the PPP regime continues to intensify as deaths and the number of confirmed cases continue to soar,” it said in a statement, while noting the decision to relax the national curfew, which is now 10.30pm to 4 am this month.
The coalition noted that October was the deadliest month for COVID-19 in Guyana, with 44 deaths (prior to the additional two that were confirmed yesterday) and 1,249 confirmed cases as at October 30th.
As a result, it charged that the PPP and Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony have proven over the three months that they have been in office that they are incapable of managing the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.
“Dr. Anthony, his battery of political advisors at the Ministry of Health and the PPP regime are all seemingly without a clue. Guyanese have been left to fend for themselves with isolation facilities being closed down and persons who test positive being told to home isolate without any monitoring,” it said.
“The APNU+AFC Coalition and indeed the vast majority of Guyanese have lost all confidence in the capacity of the PPP regime to manage the spread of COVID-19,” it added.
The coalition drew a comparison with its performance in managing the spread of the virus during the five month period from March to July when it was still in government, while noting that there was a total of 474 confirmed cases and 21 deaths in that time.
“For the three month period between August 3 [and] October 30 when the PPP has been in government, there have been a startling 103 deaths and 3669 confirmed cases,” it added.
Anthony and the government have noted that the increase in the amount of cases is partly due to the increased testing, which has given a better picture of the spread of the virus. At the point when the coalition left office, just over 4,000 persons had been tested, compared with almost 20,000 to date. In addition, under updated protocols, samples are being collected from recently deceased for testing, which officials say was not done under the former administration.
The APNU+AFC statement, however, said the PPP is attempting to dupe Guyanese by linking the increase in confirmed cases with increased testing. “The number of deaths under the PPP is the clearest indicator that the PPP is without any viable plan to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana,” it added, before urging all Guyanese to take all precautions as prescribed by public health officials and to protect themselves at all times.
On Friday, the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No. 11), which will be in effect from November 1st to November 30th, were released. Under the measures, schools can be reopened by the Ministry of Education and sporting events can be held although they must be subject to the approval of the Ministry of Health. Additionally, gyms are now allowed to be opened during non-curfew hours.
Faced with criticism over the moves to continue rolling back the emergency measures that were implemented after the first local case was confirmed on March 11th, the PPP/C government has said a number of factors had to be taken into consideration, with the economy being key among them.
At the start of the month, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said that his government would choose “soft” enforcement although he bemoaned the callous attitude of some citizens. “People know how deadly it is and it can kill you and yet they go on the seawall and have private parties, no mask. People will get infected if that happens and then more and more people will die. How do you prevent that? Do you go back to rigid enforcement again? Locking up everybody who comes on the seawall or who drives at night beyond the curfew or raid people’s homes and shut down the parties? How many police? What capabilities do we have for the country? And that is why we are saying we want to do soft enforcement, talking to them, saying ‘It is your responsibility not just the government. It is your life, it is your family at risk if you don’t wear your mask or go out to private parties and be out there without masks and go into your homes,’” he said at a press conference on October 2nd.
Prior to leaving office, APNU+AFC was also attempting to roll back the measures.
