Jones, Duncan behaved recklessly, endangered all lives at Parliament – Health Minister

After testing positive for COVID-19

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony affirmed that the two A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Members of Parliament who tested positive for COVID-19 acted recklessly as they endangered the lives of others when they chose to participate in-person, in Tuesday’s parliamentary session.

Setting the record straight, Dr Anthony noted that prior to the convening of the 12th Parliament on Tuesday, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs had written to all Members of Parliament notifying them that if they had tested positive for the virus, they should not attend the sitting in-person, they should do so virtually.
Dr Anthony asserted that as Health Minister he had an obligation to notify the Clerk that both Opposition Members of Parliament Christopher Jones and Sherod Duncan had tested positive for the virus.
Both Jones and Duncan interacted with a number of parliamentarians as well as ancillary staffers. It was reported that Jones had a private meeting with Speaker Manzoor Nadir and Clerk Isaacs.
“What we had yesterday (Tuesday) was two Members of Parliament who have tested positive and instead of staying in self-isolation as is required by the Order and is required by the law, decided that they are going to breach those orders and law that we have and attend Parliament in person,” the Health Minister said via a video released by the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday.
Dr Anthony reminded that the law clearly stated that if anyone knowingly spreads an infectious disease, that person has committed an offence.

“From the information that I have received…they (Jones and Duncan) were tested, they were advised that they should have stayed home for at least 13 days, the first ten, and then the second three once they were asymptomatic, that they would then finish their home isolation,” he explained.
According to Dr Anthony, both Jones and Duncan were still supposed to be in home isolation.
“At the time when they got the positive test to when Mr Jones and Mr Duncan were in Parliament, it’s within that timeframe, so both of them would have breached the rules that we have for self-quarantine,” the Health Minister asserted.
“So, this is unacceptable behaviour. It is very highly irresponsible for them to know that they gave a positive test and yet show up in the Parliament.
“And as the Minister of Health, when I see that the public is put in danger in such a way, then I have a right to inform the relevant authority, and in this case, it’s the persons who are managing the Parliament. That is why the Clerk was informed yesterday,” Dr Anthony contended.
“So I hope they would stay at home, self-quarantine and stop endangering the lives of other Guyanese.”

The Health Minister further disclosed that he was following up with an official letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, because persons who would have been exposed to the two Members of Parliament would now have to take the necessary precautions.
Dr Anthony explained that persons who were in very close proximity to Jones and Duncan may now be required to self-quarantine and eventually after five to seven days, they may be asked to take a COVID-19 test.
In relation to Jones, the APNU/AFC coalition issued a statement Tuesday evening saying that he tested positive for COVID-19 more than 15 days ago. The coalition also explained that Jones underwent the recommended period of self-isolation, and observed all protocols established by the Health Ministry and his private health-care professional.
The two Government ministers – Hugh Todd and Oneidge Walrond Allicock – who had tested positive for COVID-19 were quarantined for the stipulated period and were subsequently re-tested. Their tests returned as negative.