Authorities in Region One are monitoring the rise of COVID-19 cases in Wauna, which falls under the township of Mabaruma.
Wauna Community Development Chairman Ammon Thom yesterday told Stabroek News that six cases have been detected in the village over a two-day period.
He explained that among the active cases there are two children and as a result the community is mulling the closure of school and the implementation of a special curfew to curb the potential spread.
Thom explained that the measures are being discussed at the regional level and the village is awaiting a response before moving forward with the implementation.
He stated that the Wauna is a gateway to Mabaruma and other villages. On this note, he pointed out that if measures are not implemented to curb COVID-19, there could be widespread transmission of the virus.
Those who have tested positive are currently in home isolation. However, Thom stressed further that with the community being close-knit, it is important that they enforce the guidelines for wearing face masks, social distancing and vaccination to curb the spread.
“The villagers are not taking this serious because we have never had a case of COVID-19 detected in the community since the start and now that we have a few cases they don’t seem to be adhering to the measures,” he explained.
In light of this, he suggested that once the measures are in place for his village, the police should play a role in enforcing them.
Just over 50% of villagers have received their first vaccination, while about 30% to 40% of villagers are completely vaccinated.
Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley on his Facebook page advised persons to take precautions as they travel through the village. He noted that the village has been identified as a hotspot and advised persons to practice social distancing and mask wearing.
