3-year-old tests positive for COVID-19 in Bartica

…testing suspended, lab non-operational for weekend

A three-year-old child is among the recent persons who tested positive for COVID-19 in the mining town of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
On Saturday, Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Seven, Dr Edward Sagala disclosed that they recorded four new cases in the region, including the toddler. These persons all came into contact with Bartica’s first COVID-19 victim, who tested positive on Wednesday.
After the detection of the first case, health officials mobilised to test 10 persons and four returned positive. They are all related to the Region’s first case.
While these persons have been placed in institutional isolation for 14 days, another 16 individuals, including healthcare workers, have been tested and are awaiting their results.
Dr Sagala emphasised that they are faced with resistance from the public to wear masks, practice social distancing and other measures. Additionally, children continue to wander on the streets unsupervised despite warnings.
“What is sad and of increasing concern is the fact that Barticians are continuously ignoring the advisories that the Health Department, time and time again, has been preaching,” he expressed.
The RHO urged residents of Bartica and by extension, Region Seven, to stay at home during this time, abide by the curfew and ensure children are kept safe.

Testing suspended
It was announced on Saturday that the National Reference Laboratory will not be operational throughout the weekend, thereby putting all tests on hold.
In a notice, the National COVID-19 Task Force informed that the building would be temporarily closed to carry out electrical works throughout the weekend. This laboratory is the only public facility to facilitate COVID-19 testing in Guyana.
“Please be advised that there will be no testing for COVID-19 today, Saturday, June 27th and tomorrow, Sunday, June 28th as the National Reference Laboratory is closed for electrical works to be done,” it was announced.
This development comes at a time when the country has seen an increase of 47 cases within the past week – a majority of which were from Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Other than this facility, the Eureka Laboratory and St Joseph Mercy Hospital aid in private testing. However, many have complained about the steep costs attached.
The most recent statistics show that there are currently 230 detected cases locally, which has been tallied since the country’s first positive on March 11.
At present, a total of 109 persons have recovered while there are 109 active cases in institutional isolation, 16 persons in institutional quarantine and one patient in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. Health authorities have conducted 2423 tests with 2193 of those being negative.
According to the World Health Organisation, the total number of cases is 10,008,027with 499,102 deaths. In South America, the number of cases is 2,058,912 with 79,958 deaths.