With the sharp rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths in Guyana, the Government has once again extended the closure of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) until September 30.
This is according to a gazetted order dated August 31, 2020, affirming that the phased reopening of the international airports will continue to be delayed. The extension also comes just hours before the previously issued directive is set to expire.
Previously, scheduled international flights in Guyana had been continuously suspended since March 18. The gazette, however, explained that limited repatriation flights, outgoing flights, cargo flights, medivac flights, technical stops, and special authorised flights will continue to operate.
GCAA had previously implemented Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 virus. This had changed the way in which airports and aeroplanes were allowed to operate, including the number of passengers they could carry.
In the interim, the Government had approved a number of flights to repatriate Guyanese citizens and residents stranded in the Caribbean and North America. Eastern Airlines has weekly flights from Miami and New York scheduled through the end of October, while a Caribbean Airlines flight from Trinidad has been scheduled for September 9.
Guyana has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases with a confirmed total of 1306 inclusive of 72 new cases and a death toll of 41. As of Monday, the 6 pm to 6 am curfew has been reimplemented.
On Sunday, there were 50 new cases. Statistics from the Health Ministry’s dashboard showed a gender breakdown of 646 males and 660 females that have been infected thus far. There are 12 persons in the designated Intensive Care Unit – a reduction of one. Meanwhile, 87 persons are in institutional isolation, 129 in institutional quarantine and 451 on home isolation. The total recovered cases stand at 718 – an increase of 31.
A further dissection showed that 15 new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), five in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 43 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), six in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The other regional figures remain the same with six in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 15 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 75 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). To date, 8295 tests were conducted.
