Surinamese airspace closed after first COVID19 case

Suriname closed its borders for all international flights at midnight on Friday after the first imported COVID19 case was registered within its borders.

Vice President Ashwin Adhin on Friday explained to parliament that the 30day lockdown is aimed at minimizing the spread of the new coronavirus. VP Adhin explained that a woman who had travelled from Holland to Suriname on Wednesday had tested positive for COVID19.

The woman in question had been to Rotterdam and Delft before catching a flight to Suriname. Upon arrival at Suriname’s Johan Adolf Pengel (JA) International

Airport, the woman was also screened by the bodyscan.

Cleopatra Jessurun, director at the Ministry of Health, explained that the bodyscan did not detect a high temerature and the woman did not apear to be sick. The woman decided to call the COVID19 hotline when she started feeling sick.

On Friday it was confirmed that the woman had tested positive for COVID19. The woman is currently in selfquarantine in her home under police guard. Her health is being monitored and if her conditon worsens, she will be admitted to the Wanica Hospital where she will be placed in a special room. The Health director gave her assurance that physicians and specialists have recently received training on how to handle COVID19 cases. Health workers also have personal protective equipment (PPE) at their disposal. “The Pan American Health Organization (Paho) is providing technical assistance and protective clothes to Suriname.”

Health Minister Antoine Elias pointed out that Suriname is sparing no efforts in minimizing the spread of the disease and urged the nation to follow the guidelines of the Health Ministry. The minister pointed out that Suriname has enough test kits to find out if a person has been infected with the new coronavirus.

Public Works, Transport and Communication Minister Vijay Chotkan pointed out that the last international flight to Suirname was carried out on Friday and that it was a plane from Surinam Airways (SLM) that left Holland for Suriname. He also pointed out that flights from Zorg en Hoop to the hinterland would be carried out as usual. The back track has been closed and the Canawaima Ferry Service has also halted its operations. The minister announced that the government would try to get all of its citizens who are still abroad back home.