Unauthorised COVID-19 testing facilities shut down

The National COVID-19 Task Force, in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force, has been investigating instances of unauthorised testing facilities, which have since been shut down upon inspection.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has announced that authorities have clamped down on facilities that are doing COVID-19 testing without the requisite authorisation. Two of the facilities were located in Bartica and Linden.
“The Task Force would have gone to some unauthorised providers because they were providing antigen tests when they were not licensed to do so. In those instances, those facilities have been closed and we have advised them that if they want to offer the test, they should do the requisite things as is outlined by the technical department within the Ministry,” he vocalised.
An application for permission is required before a facility can offer testing.
Meanwhile, there are instances where allegations are made against entities, claiming that tests are being entered as negative without due testing. These are usually investigated by the Task Force, while the Ministry’s Technical Department has been working to conduct periodical inspections to ensure compliance with national measures. Presently, no one has been charged for such an offence.
“From time to time, we get reports that entities providing the test might just write the report without actually offering the test, so they give you a piece of paper saying you’re negative without doing the test. When we get such reports, we take it very seriously and the Task Force would start an investigation to see whether that is so or not. We have had a few incidents that we’ve heard of and the task force, along with the Police Force would have investigated those,” Dr Anthony shared.
Due to monitoring in the past, people have been prosecuted for forging documents and vaccination cards in Guyana. Only last month, two nurses attached to the One Mile Health Centre, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), were charged for forging COVID vaccination books. Previously, two drivers attached to the Ministry of Health were also charged for alleged theft of vaccination cards.
Under Section 240 of the Criminal Offences Act, Chapter 8:01, forgery is an offence and as such, warrants penalties for persons caught in such an act.
“You can be prosecuted for forgery, and the fine, if you’re found guilty of forgery, would be up to three years’ imprisonment. And if you forge a vaccination card, you will be liable to this type of punishment if caught. So, I want to encourage people: desist from such practices, because when we catch you, you are going to feel the full brunt of the law,” the Health Minister had warned a few months ago. (G12)