1 tests positive for COVID-19, others quarantined

Brazilians nabbed in Linden

One of 12 Brazilians who were intercepted in a minibus at Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, an official in the region has confirmed.
Police recently launched an investigation after the minibus which was transporting 12 Brazilians was intercepted along the Rockstone trail at about 02:00h last Thursday. Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Hugh Winter confirmed that Police ranks acting on intelligence intercepted a minibus.
The nationals, he noted, were then escorted to the Upper Demerara Hospital (UDH) quarantine facility at Wismar, Linden. COVID-19 test samples were sent to Georgetown and it was confirmed that one of 12 results returned positive. Up to Monday, the other 11 immigrants remained at the quarantine facility. They are expected to be retested later this week.
The news of the positive COVID-19 case did not sit well with residents of the region, who have expressed health and safety concerns.
Some have noted that the spread of the virus across the border from Brazil poses a serious public health threat to the Guyanese population as well as national security implications. As such, residents are calling for permanent monitoring facilities to be put in place. Lindener Leon Roberts said while much has been done to close the border, much more needs to be contemplated in the Rockstone area and further inland to address public health security and the monitoring of traffic especially along the Lethem to Linden Road.
The regional health authorities in Region 10 had established COVID-19 monitoring facilities on the outskirts of Linden focused on addressing traffic from the east, with monitoring efforts concentrated on traffic from the Berbice River communities, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and north of the capital Georgetown, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). However, the flow of traffic from the southern regions – Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) especially from persons who may have travelled across the border from Brazil is worrying.
Meanwhile, Commander Winter explained that so far, the COVID-19 checkpoints which were established at Bamia along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and Mabura have been “very effective” in helping to contain the spread of the virus in the region.
“We continue pushing against those persons that come into the country illegally,” Winter said.
Region 10 has recorded a total of 11 positive COVID-19 cases and one death. (G13)