Bartica records first case of COVID-19
A male resident of Bartica, Region Seven, yesterday tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID19) and was subsequently transferred to an isolation facility in Georgetown as he was displaying symptoms of the respiratory ailment.
This is according to a statement from the Regional Health Officer Dr Edward Sagala. “A resident of Bartica tested positive for COVID-19 and, given the fact that unlike cases in the past, the individual is showing signs and symptoms of the disease, [he] was immediately transferred to an isolation facility in Georgetown for further management and care,” the statement said.
It was further revealed that the patient had recently travelled to Oku, which is located in the Mazaruni mining area. Ten persons who had contact with the patient were tested yesterday and are currently a
“We continue to remind the Bartica community again that COVID-19 is a real danger and has not disappeared and will not do so soon. This disease spreads like wildfire and it kills. As such, we remind everyone to continue to seriously observe all the advisories including hand-washing, wearing of masks, social distancing and observing the curfew,” the statement said.
Persons were also advised that visits to patients at the Bartica Regional Hospital are currently prohibited and persons are to avoid the hospital completely unless it is an extreme emergency.
According to Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, the patient is the first resident of the town to test positive for the virus. He is encouraging persons to adhere to all public health advisories, adding that persons who are frequenting the area should be extremely cautious and they should understand that they have an important part to play in stopping the spread of the virus.
While the total number of COVID-19 cases in Region Seven are unknown, Stabroek News understands that most of the cases originated from the Aranka mining area. On June 1st, health officials revealed that there were 15 cases in the region, all of which are persons who had travelled to the Aranka mining area. The number of cases in Region Seven has since increased.
Persons who tested positive for the disease in Aranka and are asymptomatic are kept at an isolation facility in Bartica while persons who are displaying signs and symptoms of the disease are transferred to isolation facilities in Georgetown.
It was also revealed that the majority of cases in the region are foreigners with only a few being Guyanese.
On Monday, the National COVID-19 Task Force, including the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and other ministries and organisations, held an emergency meeting on the “alarming increase” in confirmed COVID-19 cases in regions One and Seven.
A release from the Task Force said that decisions were taken to effect enhanced containment measures within the affected areas in these regions which will be gazetted.
“The enhanced containment measures will include cease work orders for specific areas in the mining sector, screening, wider testing, checkpoints and other measures in several locations within regions One and Seven,” the release said.