Toshao Learmond Emmanuel is worried that the indigenous community of Waramuri will become the next COVID-19 hotspot in Region One after three persons who were infected with the virus died days apart from each other.
Waramuri is close to communities like Santa Rosa, Kwebanna and Manawarin, all of which have recorded cases of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 fatalities from Waramuri have been identified as Calvin Abrams, a former pastor, his brother, Carl Abrams, a former teacher, and Lloyd Moses, 92. They were residents of an island called Haimacabra, which is located in Waramuri.
Stabroek News was told that the Calvin was the first person to die after he started having difficulty breathing. Around the same time Calvin was ill, Carl also fell ill and he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he succumbed. Relatives were later informed that both men tested positive for COVID-19.
According to information provided to Stabroek News, Moses died a few days later at his home. Relatives are at a loss as to how he may have contracted the virus as he was blind and did not go anywhere. He was also tested for COVID-19 after he died.
Meanwhile, the Toshao revealed that a few residents of the community had tested positive for COVID-19 in August. However, not much testing was done in the community between then and September even though during that time persons were seen suffering with flu-like symptoms.
He said that it was only after the death of the Calvin that persons in Haimacabra and by extension Waramuri began taking the signs and symptoms seriously. “I think it was in the mid October that we started noticing that people in the village were complaining that we are not feeling well and were having symptoms like dry cough, fever and they were not feeling well and it was then that we reached out to the medical team,” he noted.
“The cases that we are getting now is from the Haimacabra area but now the regional administration is aware of the situation here and the health personnel are in full control and has been very active in this area,” he said before explaining that mass testing is currently being conducted in the community.
Given the location of the Haimacabra, the Toshao added, the village council has restricted travel to and from the island, where the majority of the cases seem to originate.
However, he says, while some residents are adhering to the restriction, there are still many that refuse to obey and are continuing to travel to and from the community to go to other parts of the region.
Emmanuel said that the village council is extremely concerned with the situation and is worried that the community will become another hotspot in Region One. He added that they restriction in place is to ensure that the virus is eradicated from the area but they do not have the resources to ensure that the travel restriction is followed. “All we can do is ask them to cooperate with us,” he lamented.
There were 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Haimacabra when Stabroek News spoke to the Toshao.
He revealed that they were awaiting for results for over 50 residents. He said that he observed that many people are willing to get tested for the disease.
He also revealed that positive patients were being isolated at the Kumaka District Hospital in Santa Rosa.
