COVID-19 patients decry substandard treatment at quarantine facilities

…say situation is “overbearing”

Patients suffering from the novel coronavirus and those who have been quarantined have raised concerns about the level of treatment being meted out to them, as they fight to eliminate the disease from their bodies.

One person, who is currently isolated at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the East Bank of Demerara (ECD), explained that while the idea of being in a quarantine facility is not debatable, the conditions imposed by health authorities are unacceptable.
The trauma of being kept with strangers was detailed, noting that “imagine being taken away from the comfort of your home because of a disease that seems almost unavoidable, especially for an essential worker. Imagine having to deal with the trauma of having to be placed among strangers, not just strangers, ‘refugees’ that now seem to have more privileges and rights than you in your own country,” the person explained.
It was stated that on many nights, they are awakened by screams which are never silenced. Complaints made to doctors are followed by reassurances that they will try to remedy the situation but it does not improve.
Meanwhile, there hasn’t been any Police presence, even though this was promised.
“Imagine being awakened at an average of 02:00h in the morning with a ‘splitting headache’ to sounds of Venezuelans moaning, screaming, beating the walls down and running around on the wooden floors of the Diamond Quarantine Facility. Shouldn’t you be getting the rest that you deserve to recover from this deadly virus?”

The patient, who is also a health worker, expressed that they were given 14 days to recover from the virus. But with innutritious meals, it is unlikely that persons will fend off the deadly virus. Along with that, these meals are not distributed in time.
“I am supposed to recover within 14 days but how does my immune system feel eating breakfast at 09:00 am and then Lunch at 03:30 pm? How do bread and boil egg sounds for breakfast? Is it even balanced? Did you try to imagine the taste? How is my immune system supposed to communicate with two pounds flour that goes directly to my large intestine?”
Labelling the situation as “overbearing”, a plea was made to the Public Health Ministry to look into the matter.
Registered Nurse Rene Atkinson is calling for better meals to be served to patients battling COVID-19, particularly at the Diamond Isolation Facility – where Atkinson is also battling the disease.
“We are not getting the required nutrients and it is my main concern at the moment. The place is clean and well-maintained so that is not the problem. It is just that the stuff that they are providing is not ideal for anyone. There are people who are in here that are sicker than I am and their body needs the nutrition, but that cannot be accomplished with them serving us bread and sardines in the morning. The immune system needs to be strengthened to fight off this virus,” he had indicated.