Aranka labelled as Region Seven’s COVID-19 hotspot

…Bartica records first case – Mayor

As health authorities heighten concerns about the increased COVID-19 cases in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Aranka has been

labelled the ‘hotspot’ in the region.
On Saturday, Mayor Gifford Marshall told Guyana Times that Bartica also reported its first case of the virus. The person, who would have travelled from Aranka through Buckhall and Parika, tested positive.
Upon realising where the person was coming from, a test was requested and it returned as a confirmed case.
“The person is on assignment to the region and they travelled from Aranka to report to their office in Bartica. Because of what’s happening in Aranka, they were tested and they showed up positive,” the Mayor shared.
It was explained that the rainfall season will allow more boats entering Aranka – a situation which will see more persons entering the region.
“The person travelled as a passenger. Hardly, persons would have their own transportation. Aranka right now is a hotspot for us in Region Seven and we have to ensure that all miners adhere to the advisories. Now that we’re having heavy rainfall, we will see more boats going into Aranka but the Buckhall route is a safer because you don’t have to go through the waterfall.”
Aranka is at the centre of a mining hub that is currently traversed by persons working in the sector. There are also linkages between the community and Bartica. While the municipality has raised concerns, miners were asked to exercise caution.
“We continue to encourage persons, especially miners to be extremely careful because all of them have families. Aranka is very close and we have many Barticians who would frequent that area, the interior in general. So we’re asking persons to exercise the necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves and protect their families,” Marshall iterated.
On Friday, Director of Primary Healthcare Services, Dr Ertinesa Hamilton disclosed that they are especially worried about Region Seven, since there is higher traffic between the mining communities and the coastland.
“The Ministry remains concerned about the increased cases seen, especially in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) taking into consideration that the mining communities have a lot of traffic. With this movement, we can have a wider spread of this disease so we urge residents to follow the guidelines provided,” Dr Hamilton voiced.
One week ago, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) called on miners to undertake greater protective and control measures as they continue to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its revised list through an official gazette document in April, the Public Health Ministry had included “mining and petroleum” as an essential service. Raising serious concerns, several Indigenous communities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have since stated that the rationale being putting mining on the list is a “mystery”, since it contributes to illegal mining and acts as an avenue to spread the virus. There have since been calls for mining to be removed from the list of essential services.