Ministry of Public Health looking to have Private Hospitals test for Coronavirus

Private Hospitals may soon be able to begin testing for COVID-19. This is according to Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence.

The Minister explained that her Ministry is currently working on Public-Private partnerships with private hospitals and has already initiated the process.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamedo Persaud was given the task of contacting the private hospitals to discuss testing and their readiness to deal with COVID-19.

“We recognise and we know that there are many Guyanese who usually seek care at private health facilities. We want to ensure that we can work with these private entities to ensure that they can provide these services,”Minister Lawrence said.

Further, she explained that it is not the view of the Ministry of Public Health that only GPHC should be testing for the novel coronavirus however the Ministry is working with initial guidelines set by PAHO/WHO.

Additionally, the Health Minister revealed that only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is proven effective at testing COVID-19 and that any facility that wishes to begin testing must be able to conduct this type of test.

If necessary, the Ministry of Public Health will share test kits with private hospitals and help them set up dedicated coronavirus Intensive Care Units.

“This is everybody’s fight. We do not embrace the RAPID tests for the testing of COVID-19.”

Guyana began testing for COVID-19 on February 26 but recorded its first case on March 11.

Guyana, 1 of 8 Caribbean countries trained to test for novel coronavirus

Guyana records two new COVID-19 cases

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guyana now stands at 33.

While the number of coronavirus deaths locally stands at 5 with the most recent death occurring on April 6, 2020.

This was disclosed by Public Health Minister Hon. Volda Lawrence in her update to the nation today.

As of April 7, 2020, a total of 132 persons have been tested. Of this amount 33 tested positive, inclusive of the five deaths. Another 99 of those tested returned negative results.

There are 38 patients housed in the Ministry of Public Health’s institutional quarantine facilities.  The regional breakdown is as follows: Region 2 – 2; Region 3 – 10; Region 4 – 22; Region 6 – 3; Region 8 – 1.

With reference to the patients in institutional isolation, the number is 24. These patients are distributed regionally as follows: Region 1- 1; Region 3-4; Region 4- 17; Region 5- 1; Region 7- 1.

Four persons are now in the COVID-19 ICU with 1 critical patient.

The Public Health Ministry continues to offer psychosocial support for those in need of these services.

The Global statistics stand at 1,210,956 confirmed cases with the number of deaths at 67,594 while in the Region of the Americas, the total number of confirmed cases is 352, 592 with the number of deaths at 9,680.

The Ministry of Public Health is again calling on all citizens to heed the health advisories and observe the correct hygiene measures and precautions. Citizens are also asked to always   practice social   distancing in   the   workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as reduce the spread of the coronavirus diseases.

Eight Coronavirus patients recover; test negative

Eight persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have recovered after a period of isolation and medical treatment.

This good news was announced by Public Health Minister, Hon. Volda Lawrence on Monday, during her daily update to the nation on the COVID-19 situation in Guyana.

The Minister disclosed that these persons were linked to Guyana’s first COVID-19 case – a 52-year-old woman who had travelled to Guyana.

She further revealed that among the eight, “three family members of the index case who tested positive had two post isolation tests; both tests for each of the three family members are negative.”

Shortly after the first case had tested positive, close family members of the now-deceased individual had also registered positive results after testing. Since then they were placed in institutional isolation and monitored by the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, contact tracing was done to locate the other persons who had interacted with the individual and her family members.

In a previous briefing, Minister Lawrence detailed how the process to recover from the virus works.

“For those persons in isolation (testing positive) they will be held for 14 days after which if no new symptoms develop within in 3 days prior to the 15thday, they will be tested twice in 24 hours. If negative they will be cleared but those with positive results will remain in further isolation.”

The news of these recoveries gives hope for others who have tested positive.

Armed medical worker detained after threatening to shoot partner

A female staff of a medical institution who allegedly threatened to shoot her male partner with an unlicensed pistol was disarmed on Monday.

According to police the incident took place at Chapel Street , New Amsterdam , Berbice.

The woman was disarmed and the weapon with two live ammunition was promptly handed over to the lawmen at the Central Police Station.

Shortly after, the suspect was detained she reportedly told investigators that she borrowed the weapon from a New Amsterdam Barber who has since refuted the allegation ; nevertheless , he too has been detained .

Investigation in progress.

GECOM to request CARICOM’s return

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday said that it will be requesting the return of the high-level CARICOM team to give validation to the national recount of votes.

Though not in a supervisory role, the commission believes that the team’s presence will give credibility to the process.

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that the agency will be soliciting the return of members of the team, who, after spending four days in Guyana last month, returned to their respective countries following the filing of an injunction against the initial recount.
The elections body met on Monday and members continued examining the modalities for the recount. Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield has been tasked with drafting the official document for the process.

“The idea is to see if we can still get the CARICOM body, not as supervising the count but their presence can give some credibility to what GECOM does. The Commission will be reaching out. We have decided today that our preference in terms of external bodies to give validation is CARICOM.  They will be informed soonest”, Alexander told journalists following the meeting today.

He explained that the recount will follow all procedures of regular polling stations. Instead of the regular Statements of Poll, however, he explained that the commission will be developing a similar document to record the votes tabulated.

“Along with the recount of the ballots, everything that is done at a polling station will be also be done during the counting. All of the issues of rejected ballots, all of those things will come up for review.”

Regarding the roles of Returning Officers, Alexander said the commission has not decided whether or not they will be part of the process. He said the CEO will make such a determination.

GECOM will be moving ahead with the national recount of votes on its own accord after the Appeal Court ruled on Sunday that it should not allow outside forces to interfere with its constitutionally mandated responsibility.”

Private Citizen Ulita Moore had filed the injunction against the commission last month, contending that an agreement between His Excellency President David Granger and opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo, for CARICOM to overlook a national recount was illegal.

After litigations in the High Court and its Full Court, the Appellate Court ruled on Sunday that the involvement of CARICOM was indeed unconstitutional.

President Granger had requested from CARICOM’s Chair Mia Mottley that the body supervise a national recount of all votes cast in Guyana’s March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

The Head of State was seeking to bring an end to rising doubts about the legitimacy of the results.

Fifth Guyanese dies from Coronavirus

Another Guyanese died this evening due to complications from the Coronavirus.

The victim has been identified as local drag-racer Dery Jaisingh aka “Mad Dog”.

He was a popular drag racer at the South Dakota circuit.

According to reports several of the victim’s family members are in quarantine.

Earlier today the Public Health Minister, Volda Lawerence announced that eight persons were in the Intensive Care Unit with one in a critical state.

Guyana now has 31 confirmed cases of Coronavirus.

Meanwhile, three family members of Guyana’s first Coronavirus victim have tested negative after undergoing several weeks of isolation.

Marcus Bisram committed to stand trial in the High Court

By Farah Bates – Murder accused, Marcus Bisram was today committed to stand trial at the High Court after the matter was called at the Whim Magistrates’ court before Magistrate Renita Singh.
Magistrate Singh discharged the case on March 30th after she found insufficient evidence for the accuse to stand trial.
However; hours after being freed, Bisram was re-arrested by police on the Corentyne and the Director of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) then instructed Magistrate Singh to reopen the preliminary inquiry into the murder charge against overseas based businessman.
Magistrate Singh, followed the orders given by the DPP and reopened the case last Thursday but did not change her ruling which stated that there was not enough evidence to commit the accuse, as such she noted that she will seek further guidance from the DPP on the way forward.
During his appearance Magistrate Singh noted that Ms. Shalimar Ali-Hack is satisfied with the evidence and ordered for Bisram to be committed to the High court for the murder of carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt.

GTT’s move to pay cuts is temporary

Pay cuts at Guyana’s largest telecommunications company, GTT, would begin at the Executive level and is viewed as a temporary but necessary measure to survive turbulent times during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This unprecedented situation is already having a severe financial impact on the business and we are just at the beginning. In a bid to ensure continued service provision and with an aim to retain staff for as long as possible, we had to make the tough call to collectively take salary cuts” explained GTT CEO, Justin Nedd.

According to the company their staff will receive their full salaries in April and 90% of their salaries for the remainder of the 2020 for those at work. For those who were unable to be reassigned and will be at home, they receive 60% of the salary. Executives will – as expected – take a larger percentage cut. This move was understood and agreed to by staff, the union and the Department of Labour and will be revisited at the end of May as the situation unfolds

“Our focus is to ensure that people have money in their pockets to feed their families – while staying employed,” said Nedd. Hundreds of GTT staff have been working from home for several weeks now. Their techs, once equipped and cleared, have been on the field and working 25% less hours at same pay. GTT is adamant that the steps taken to protect staff’s safety leads the way in the country and the firm is constantly looking for ways to improve. Two large shipments of PPE are expected in 2 weeks and technicians have always had the right to refuse work in the event of unsafe conditions.

In the past few weeks, GTT has taken several measures to support the call for physical distancing, including the closure of its retail outlets. The company’s actions have been in the interest of the health and well-being of its customers and staff – with online options for bill payment provided.

“Globally, unemployment rates are soaring as more and more companies move to layoffs – some large and well-known brands included. The US is seeing record unemployment and I suspect that the situation in Guyana will quickly evolve. With the best fiscal prudence in place, these are challenging and unprecedented times that call for unprecedented action. As a company, GTT has been financially strong – and we have survived the tides for nearly 30 years. To take our country through – and to hold on to our people for as long as we can, pardon us while we make our sacrifices. We are in this together – and will emerge stronger,” said Nedd.

Guyana has 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19

The total number of confirmed cases of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) in Guyana now stands at 29 as of April 5, 2020.

Of the 29 confirmed cases, 25 are active and 4 are deceased. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Public Health.


A total number of 110 persons have now been tested.

Another 157 are on home quarantine while 6 are in the Ministry of Public Health’s isolation. The number of persons in institutional quarantine stands at 34.

Globally the number of confirmed cases stands at 1,051,697, while the number of deaths is now 56,986. These figures represent 213 countries.

 In the Region of the Americas there are 279,543 confirmed cases and 6,802 deaths.

The Ministry of Public Health is again calling on all citizens to heed the health advisories and observe the correct hygiene measures and precautions. Citizens are also asked to always   practice social   distancing in   the   workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as reduce the spread of the corona virus diseases.

Former OceanView Hotel to be used as dedicated COVID-19 Centre

The former Ocean View Hotel located on the Rupert Craig Highway, Liliendaal will be used as a dedicated COVID-19 facility to treat and monitor patients. The facility will house 300 critical patient one it is operational.

Chairman of the National COVID-19 Taskforce (NCTF), Honourable Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo today revealed that the taskforce is preparing for all possibilities and is also looking at preparing other dedicated facilities to treat COVID-19 patients.

These facilities include the former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation building on High Street, the National Gymnasium and the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The various COVID-19 facilities will cater for over 1000 patients.

Other facilities being used to treat, monitor and quarantine coronavirus patients are the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Diamond Diagnostic Centre and West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Guyana recorded its first case of COVID-19 on March 11, 2020. As of April 2, the country registered 23 confirmed cases including 4 deaths.