In light of mounting calls for increased testing for the novel coronavirus, the Public Health Ministry disclosed on Sunday that 13 more tests were conducted on persons.
However, according to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday, none of these results was positive. In fact, the number of confirmed cases remain at 74 and deaths at eight – the same figures as Saturday.
Nevertheless, the total number of persons tested for coronavirus to date is 455, of which 381 were negative.
Meanwhile, there are now 53 persons in institutional isolation, one less than Saturday’s figure. The number of persons in quarantine also increased by one, totalling 24.
There are still five persons in the dedicated COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening disease remain at 12.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
Currently, Guyana is conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of less than one per cent of the population, and calls are being made for there to be increased testing for the pandemic, which has been devastating countries around the world, killing more than 193,000 persons and infecting in excess of 2.8 million people.
In fact, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday pointed out that based on consultations with medical professionals, enhanced testing is needed in Guyana.
“We are testing too few people and… if you have the virus, there is a stigma attached to people. So many people are afraid of being tested and they are afraid that if they test positively, they’ll be placed in quarantine facilities that are not conducive to the non-spreading of the virus or in conditions that are not livable,” he stated.
Former Health Minister Volda Lawrence
Only Thursday caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence disclosed that the Ministry continues to face the challenge of under-reporting from persons who have been in contact with a COVID-19 case because of the stigma associated with the coronavirus.
Nevertheless, Jagdeo contended that the country needs to work on removing the stigma, thereby enhancing testing. He said that it is unbelievable that only 400-plus persons have been tested so far.
“When countries are boasting about testing several percentages of their population, we’re lagging not just behind but unbelievably way behind…,” he stressed.
This call by Jagdeo for increased COVID-19 testing comes days after Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa F Etienne called for accelerated and expanded coronavirus testing in countries of the Americas.
During a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Dr Etienne said there is a need for a clearer view of where the virus is circulating and how many people have been infected in order to guide actions.
“The pandemic continues to impact our region, and it’s vital for all countries to actively embrace preventive measures while preparing for more cases, hospitalisations and deaths,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is now moving towards increasing its testing capacity and announced on Sunday that three mobile testing units have been launched in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
According to the Ministry, the establishment of its mobile units will provide COVID-19 services for citizens who have symptoms or who have been in contact with a positive case and think that they are at risk.
One of the mobile units will be in Central Georgetown – the epi-centre of the pandemic in Guyana. It will be at East La Penitence Health Centre from today, April 27, 2020, to Wednesday, April 29, 2020, between the hours of 09:00h and 15:00h.
The other two mobile testing units will be on the East Coast of Demerara at Paradise and the East Bank of Demerara at Herstelling. This service will be available from Monday to Friday between 09:00h and 15:00h.
