Just over 300 members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to date, according to the Officer-in-charge of the Welfare Department, Deputy Superintendent Jewel Sullivan, who says 50% of all the law enforcers have so far received at least one vaccine.
During an interview with Stabroek News on Wednesday, Sullivan confirmed that a total of 303 members of the force, of various ranks, tested positive for COVID-19, with no death reported.
It is unclear how many of these ranks may have contracted the virus while on duty. “…Police duty is not in office [or the] station alone. It’s all over; through the length and breadth of the country. So in a case like this, you can’t say whether they went to the hospital, the station or a home and get it because remember it has to do with arresting and so and arresting is all physical touch and all of that,” Sullivan said.
According to Sullivan, the majority of the cases were asymptomatic.
“…Most of the policewomen and men were asymptomatic and so it didn’t had such an effect on the ranks, in terms of getting so ill that they can’t function,” she added.
Sullivan further explained that as required, when one rank from a station/outpost tested positive, the others stationed at the location would automatically need to quarantine or isolate.
“As soon as they recognised that they may have it, whether they showed signs or not, they are quarantined or isolated. They don’t remain on the job,” she noted.
When this occurs, Sullivan said officers are taken from other locations to replace the affected ranks. “That is what we have been experiencing since COVID started,” she said.
Sullivan recalled that there was one instance where an entire outpost had to be shut down due to the outbreak.
In September, 2020, six ranks stationed in Region One (Barima-Waini) tested positive for the COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms of dengue fever. The then Police Commander of Region One, Senior Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, had told Stabroek News that the ranks included one Sergeant, two Corporals and three Constables.
Months before this, eight ranks of the Presidential Guard Unit had tested positive.
The revelation was made after the ranks were subject to random testing, in keeping with the Ministry of Health guidelines.
Vaccination
As it relates to vaccination, Sullivan said that half of the force’s population have already received at least one vaccine. Out of the 50%, she said 20% are fully vaccinated, having received both doses of their vaccine.
The remainder, she added, are awaiting the dates for their second.
All members of several departments, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), are fully vaccinated.
Sullivan explained that while some ranks went to get their vaccines at the sites across the country, the GPF has also partnered with the Ministry of Health to have vaccination drives.
This week, she said health officials will be at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, at Eve Leary to administer vaccines.
While it is not mandatory, Sullivan said efforts are underway to encourage ranks to get vaccinated to help fight the virus.
“…We try to sensitise and encourage persons to get vaccinated, seeing that we are frontline workers and so forth,” she said.
Like every other business and/or individual, Sullivan said the pandemic is also affecting the force.
“…Remember, it’s human beings you are dealing with—people with children, people with families—and so a lot of people have a little fear in terms of interacting with people in a normal way,” Sullivan said.
