Guyana, Suriname working to synchronise COVID-19 guidelines

Border reopening

…73 new cases recorded

The Health Ministry on Friday announced that 73 new COVID-19 cases were recorded. Guyana has reported a total of 5601 cases and 151 deaths. In its daily dashboard update, the Ministry noted that there are five patients in the Intensive Care Unit, 45 persons in institutional quarantine, 705 in home isolation and 22 in institutional quarantine. To date, 4595 persons have recovered completely and 31,270 have been tested.
A breakdown showed that 18 new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 30 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 10 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), three in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and six in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
In Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), positives remain at 180.

Synchronising COVID-19 guidelines
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has shared that Guyana is working with Surinamese counterparts to synchronise the COVID-19 guidelines, as preparations continue for the reopening of the border on December 12.
“We have been working with the Surinamese authority to ensure that we can synchronise our guidelines or protocols for the reopening of the Moleson Creek port and as our guidelines are fairly stringent,” he explained.
As it stands, a PCR test is required within 72 hours to be allowed into Guyana without quarantine. If the test was done beyond 72 hours and within seven days, it is a requirement that the traveller undergoes another test upon arrival. This is slightly different in Suriname.
“Suriname’s protocols are slightly different. In addition to the PCR that they require to enter, they also require people to be in quarantine for 14 days. There is a little bit of a difference so people travelling over to Suriname would have to go into quarantine. So, we’re trying to synchronise and we are currently wrapping up,” the Minister added.
Government had taken a decision to extend the National COVID-19 measures throughout the month of December, and give the green light for the reopening of travel between Guyana and Suriname via the ferry service.
From December 12, the Moleson Creek Crossing to facilitate travel between Guyana and Suriname will be reopened, whereby operators and passengers are asked to comply with port health measures issued by the Health Ministry.
The Guyana-Suriname Ferry Service has been closed since March 14, 2020 – days after the first COVID-19 case was recorded in Guyana, prompting the shutdown of all ports of entry. In October, Guyana made a decision to reopen its two airports to international commercial flights.
Just last week, authorities in Guyana and Suriname said they were working to have the ferry service between the two countries resumed as early as possible since the MV Canawaima had been out of operation for months. This is after President Irfaan Ali made a State visit to the Dutch-speaking neighbour and held talks with President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.