There should be more focus on the coronavirus

Dear Editor,

Yesterday’s national elections in Guyana was long and eagerly awaited by many, no doubt in part as a result of the No Confidence Motion in Dec 2018 and the prospect of control of the windfall revenue expected from oil.

This projected revenue holds much promise for those who sincerely hope for a bright future for all Guyanese.

I am looking at the news out of Korea and I cannot help concluding that whilst the national attention is riveted on campaigning by the candidates, and the elections touted to be the game changer, we have missed the iceberg in our path.

The coronavirus which is currently wreaking havoc in developed countries around the world is now confirmed to be present in our neighbours and countries with whom we have direct and unrestricted travel daily.

The coronavirus and its implications and the proposed plans to deal with it, if any, has not been discussed by any of the parties campaigning for elections.

Developed countries with stateof-the-art health facilities are unable to cope with this new health challenge.

South Korea has mobilised the army to assist in the control and spread but concede they are unable to do so and that they have run out of beds.

What hope then is there for Guyana where our health facilities are incapable of dealing with basic health challenges.

There are a large number of Guyanese in the countries where this modern-day plague is present who will return to Guyana shortly if they have not yet done so.

Our only hope is isolation, implementing basic measures and avoidance of contact.

Yours faithfully, Prabha Persaud-Kissoon