Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday reminded citizens that personal responsibility is necessary for keeping the spread of COVID-19 low during the current holiday season.
As Guyana steps into the Christmas season, shoppers are in evidence crowding the streets and overflowing in some stores in Georgetown. Given this situation, the Minister stated that to prevent a significant increase in COVID-19 cases all persons should behave responsibly and adhere to the precautionary measures.
“We know that COVID is here, COVID hasn’t disappeared, we haven’t had a vaccine yet so we haven’t been able to immunize anybody here and therefore those precautions that we were talking about since March, we have to abide by them,” he cautioned.
He also advised that other measures that can be taken to ensure persons are safe include having stores collaborate with health authorities to ensure that they put measures in place so that persons who will be shopping at those businesses can do so in a safe environment. “I know around this holiday season people tend to crowd up in shops, if you really don’t have to go out there don’t go,” the Minister urged.
Further, he noted that persons have a habit of window-shopping which they should curb given the current situation, because while engaging in that activity, they could possibly expose themselves to contracting the virus. He said that if persons can modify their behaviour, it would help during this season.
Dr Anthony added, “If we don’t take on this personal responsibility then I’m afraid what we will be seeing is coming out of this Christmas season we will see a spike in cases. Now we can all avoid this if we all take precautions.”
Meanwhile he warned that this is not the time for persons to discard their masks and go out to drink and have parties. The minister said that persons should still be vigilant and take the measures seriously. “You have to practice the measures not just know the measures, you have to practice them and if you do so, well then all of us are going to be safe.”
