Guyana’s laws allow for detention, quarantine of persons that pose threat – DCMO

Coronavirus outbreak

Any person returning from China or persons entering the country, who are suffering from flu-like symptoms, will have to be detained until it is determined that they have not contracted the novel coronavirus (nCoV) illness.

This is according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle during a radio programme on Saturday.
“Should anybody come in who is actually symptomatic they will have to be detained. We have been in discussion with the Attorney General’s office and looking at our quarantine laws that give us that authority. A port health officer can call an immigration officer or the police to detain someone and put them in an ambulance and take them to [a] health facility where they can be held until they are no longer a threat.”
Dr Gordon-Boyle pointed out that Guyana’s Immigration laws can also take effect in such cases where visitors to the country may not be allowed entry.
“The laws we have, our immigration laws, also provide for us to turn anybody back who we suspect may be a threat. So, there are laws that cover us if we have to take these draconian measures. So far we haven’t had to, so far persons coming have been a-symptomatic so we are allowing the home isolation.”
She emphasised that to date, there is no known case of coronavirus in Guyana, and that preventative actions have been intensified at the ports of entry to avoid the introduction of coronavirus into the country.
Previously, students returning from China who were symptomatic were allowed to go to their homes but remain in isolation to protect their families and loved ones. There was the understanding that they would have to register at the nearest health centre/facility to their residences and be subjected to make daily visits for a two-week period.
Testing was done during each visit to ensure that no student who returned to Guyana had the disease which would usually manifest within a 14-day period.
However, with the recent announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the coronavirus has now become a public health emergency of international concern, local health authorities have “upped the ante.”
She further stated that should an actual coronavirus case be discovered in Guyana, health workers will need more than simple gear and equipment to protect themselves, while executing their duties.
In this regard, the relevant authorities have already put measures in place, she added.
The DCMO added that earlier this month there were almost 10 students that were being monitored upon their return from China but some of them have been cleared since the two-week manifestation period elapsed.
According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as middle east respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome.
A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and in extreme cases, death.