Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall on Wednesday confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 in January.
“I was COVID positive in January. I did not have any symptoms. I was asymptomatic,” he told senior medical staff at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he also shared details about his mental state when he received the news.
Dharamlall recounted that by the time he received the confirmation, he had already accepted that he was likely positive. “Then when he [the doctor] called and I said okay this was me. Those two hours after when I immediately went into isolation I really thought I was going to die,” he related.
For him, consideration needs to be given to “psychological and mental stress” that many suffer after a positive result in addition to any possible physical symptoms. He stressed that in the first hours of isolation, he kept thinking that “invincible Nigel was going to die.”
He pointed out that the virus can potentially kill you and that in itself can cause immense stress if one tests positive for it
“COVID has affected a lot of people. Some of us know people personally who have died as a result of this malicious disease,” he noted
He then applauded the frontline workers, whom he said have so far done a “tremendous job.”
Dharamlall also continuously stressed the importance of citizens of Guyana ensuring that they receive their COVID-19 vaccine. “I hope that some point in the near future we will get herd immunity,” he said even as he urged that persons should not form a decision of not getting the vaccine on false conspiracies and narratives which are being spread by some.
Dharamlall also encouraged the frontline workers present to ensure that they are taking all precautions while outside of their work stations, as well as holding their relatives and persons in their personal life accountable to ensuring they also take all precautions.
Dharamlall faced criticism in March when he posted a photograph of himself and members of his staff, huddled together and unmasked, while celebrating Phagwah. It was felt that his actions were sending the wrong message in light of government’s campaign to get the citizenry to abide by the COVID-19 protocols, including social distancing and mask wearing.
