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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Two more die from COVID-19
By Navendra Seoraj
AUGUST has been the deadliest month in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), with 20 persons losing their lives within this time. The most recent victims were identified as an 89-yearold man from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and a 47-year-old woman from Region Seven
(Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Both persons were reported to have died while receiving treatment on Monday. Authorities have since confirmed that they are in contact with the family and relatives of all the victims to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious
disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. But the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer”, especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities. This was according to doctors of the GPHC. At that time, Guyana had recorded six deaths due to the COVID-19 disease and, while the loss of life is never
pleasant, doctors had said most of the persons who died had co-morbidities. In medicine, comorbidity is defined as the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition; in the countable sense of the term, comorbidity is each additional condition. The WHO had said that 81 per cent of persons, who contract COVID-19, will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms and five per cent will need intensive care.
Guyana has so far recorded 1,234 cases of COVID-19, but 687 of those persons have since recovered while 41 persons have lost their lives. Of the remaining cases, 87 persons are in institutional isolation and 411 are in home isolation, while 13 persons are being treated in the COVID-19 ICU. As cases continue to climb, authorities have asked persons to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures, which are still in effect. This order emphasises the need to always use
a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving home, practice physical distancing, and observe good hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you do have symptoms of COVID-19 or any concerns that you may need information, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 6246674 or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health. gov.gy.
Gov’t announces $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief package GOVERNMENT would be providing $25,000 per household as a relief due to the impact of COVID-19, President, Dr Irfaan Ali said on Monday. The President made the announcement while addressing the Private Sector Commission’s Annual General Meeting, but did not go into details of the relief package. President Ali less than two weeks ago had said that government is mobilising some US$60M from the World Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Development
Bank, in addition to a $4.5B package it had announced earlier to bolster the national response to COVID-19. The President had noted that those sums were in addition to the US$1M grant received from the Government of India. Those, he said, were outside of other bi-lateral support received and were in the process of being received. The President then had said he spent the last few weeks consulting with many stakeholders, including the private sector, communities, trade union representatives, youths, and healthcare pro-
fessionals, aimed at arriving at a national holistic plan that integrates every aspect in response to COVID-19. “So what we have seen is the closure of small business enterprises, our economy declined about four per cent at mid-year, contraction in business by more than 20 to 70 per cent, the loss of jobs, reduced workforce, reduced operations and output due to the implementation of work rotation work schedules,” the President had noted. Further, the head of state said the loss of income has led to starvation in many communities, something
which is being addressed. He had pointed out that a holistic plan was being looked at to tackle the pandemic, while also targeting measures that would create jobs, ensure the return of income, and improve spending in the economy, while keeping the population in good health. The government, he had said was focused on delivering an all-encompassing plan that will hold health and safety paramount, while balancing the need to fortify the economic standing.
Healthcare workers, police among workers for childcare assistance HEALTHCARE providers, police officers, and other officers within the joint services, are among a number of category of workers that will be eligible to benefit from a “Childcare Assistance Programme” that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) is planning to roll out shortly. The pilot programme will see the ministry covering the payments to childcare facilities that care for the children of those persons who qualify for the assistance. The programme is open to the relevant frontline workers both in the public and private sectors. “It will be available to frontline workers with children who are below the age of seven and the direct payment will only be made to licensed childcare facilities. The category of workers that can benefit from this
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindyha Persaud
programme will include all healthcare workers, police officers, prison officers, fire service officers, security officers and army officers,” Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud, informed during a virtual press conference last Monday. The minister said that applications form for the programme will be sent to the relevant employers, while it will also be made available
for download on the ministry’s website. The criteria and other relevant information will be listed. Persaud noted that as the programme develops the ministry will re-visit to look at the possibility of widening the scope of persons to which it is offered. “This project is a pilot and if not before the end of the year, then very early next year we will look at how we can expand it,” the minister said. The minister said that the ministry is trying to do whatever little it can to assist those who are doing so much for the nation. “We are giving packages for essential workers. I want to thank those workers going out every day under challenging circumstances and risking their lives to deliver services to all of us across Guyana,” Minister Persaud said.
