The Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) COVID-19 patient, Hamlet Da Silva, who escaped from the Lethem Regional Hospital isolation facility, was on Tuesday captured in Bonfim, Brazil.
Guyana-Brazil border crossing in Region 9
Guyana Times was told that the Region’s patient zero is a dual citizen – of Guyana and Brazil.
After he tested positive for COVID-19, the man escaped from the Lethem Regional Hospital during heavy rainfall around 06:00h on Tuesday.
He was captured hours later in Bonfim, Brazil where he is currently being held in quarantine with his wife, who also tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
Based on information received, after escaping from the Regional Hospital, the man entered Brazil via an illegal crossing and was nabbed by Police in that country.
During an interview, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Naail Uthman told this publication that doctors in the region were currently in contact with health authorities in Brazil. He said that the man was being treated for malaria in Brazil, but after his condition worsened, he visited the Lethem Regional Hospital and was immediately put in isolation after he displayed severe symptoms of COVID-19.
The RHO said that at present the hospital is tracing the patient’s contacts as he came into contact with several persons.
It was reported to the RHO that the man travelled all the way to Monkey Mountain in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
“We are all trying to deal with contact tracing and that is what we are doing right now, because this man came into contact with several persons,” Dr Uthman stated.
Guyana’s south-western neighbour, Brazil saw an increase in positive cases by 10,222 within one day and the deaths also rose by 751.
On Monday, caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence confirmed that Da Silva tested positive for the virus.
