Calls for rapid testing of the population have fallen on deaf ears, with zero tests conducted for the novel coronavirus within 24 hours.
Nurse wearing respirator mask holding a positive blood test result for the new rapidly spreading Coronavirus, originating in Wuhan, China
In the recently updated COVID-19 dashboard, the Public Health Ministry’s figures show that 582 tests were conducted – the same amount as the previous day.
This meant the number of positive cases remained at 82 with 24 recovered cases and nine deaths. A total of three persons remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 18 in institutional quarantine and 49 in institutional isolation.
In recent time, concerns have been raised that more persons might be carrying the virus unknowingly, since the virus can manifest asymptotically. But the Ministry has contended that only individuals with signs and symptoms of the disease or those who had been in contact with a positive case is deemed a viable reason for testing. There are other secondary factors which are deliberated upon also.
Some persons have even raised complaints of experiencing symptoms associated with the virus but failing to receive medical treatment until days later. Meanwhile, other countries within the region have already ramped up testing significantly to reach a wider scope as Guyana continues to lag behind.
Guyana is currently conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of less than one per cent of the population.
Just last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that based on consultations with medical professionals, enhanced testing is needed in Guyana.
“We are testing too few people and…if you have the virus, there is a stigma attached to people. So many people are afraid of being tested and they are afraid that if they test positively, they’ll be placed in quarantine facilities that are not conducive to the non-spreading of the virus or in conditions that are not livable,” he was quoted as saying.
Caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence had disclosed that the Ministry continues to face the challenge of under-reporting from persons who have been in contact with a COVID-19 case because of the stigma associated with the coronavirus.
Nevertheless, Jagdeo contended that the country needs to work on removing the stigma, thereby enhancing testing. He said that it is unbelievable that such a small amount of persons have been tested so far, almost two months since the first case was detected.
“When countries are boasting about testing several percentages of their population, we’re lagging not just behind but unbelievably way behind…,” he stressed.
This call was heightened by Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa F Etienne, who also lobbied for accelerated and expanded coronavirus testing in countries of the Americas.
In recent days, regional administrations have employed their own contact tracing exercises to find undetected cases of the coronavirus.
Region 10 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) was able to uncover two positive cases through this exercise, which were later handed over to health authorities.
Even with limited testing, there has been a stark 110 per cent increase in the number of positive cases in less than one month.
