8 minute read
DCMO P
10 SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
NEWS Over 35% COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic – DCMO
Guyana has recorded 116 cases of COVID-19 after three more persons tested positive on Friday. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen GordonBoyle, in the daily briefing, updated that an additional 13 persons were tested, which adds to the total of 1065 tests conducted.
Deaths from the coronavirus have remained at 10, while five persons are in institutional quarantine and 63 in institutional isolation. Another three persons are still receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 43 persons have so far recovered from the disease.
Dr Gordon-Boyle mentioned that Guyana’s situation has seen no improvement, with alarming figures being recorded within the last 14 days.
“The situation in Guyana in relation to the transmission of the coronavirus has not improved. We are reporting three new cases today, and our fatality rate from this disease remains very high. Our positive cases have grown significantly over the last two weeks, as community transmission continues,” she declared.
The DCMO urged people to come forward and get tested. She noted that more than 35 persons of the positive cases in the country are actually asymptomatic. This means they can operate as per normal while carrying the disease.
“Over 35 per cent of our COVID-19 cases were actually asymptomatic - had no typical signs or symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath etc. So even if your temperature is normal, you have to continue to behave as if you have the virus. So, you must continue to wear your mask, wash your hands frequently, maintain physical distancing, stay at home, and immediately report to the COVID Hotline should any symptoms arise,” she advised.
Testing, she noted, will be decentralised from Georgetown to other sections of the coast, targeting mostly regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).
In the weekend and the upcoming week, health authorities have asked the public to make use of mobile units which will be placed at La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara and South Ruimveldt in Georgetown.
“We have mentioned to you that we are currently working on strengthening the health system to respond to COVID-19 on a longer- term basis. The aforementioned activities are a part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, where patients across the 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services. Please understand that transmission can only be reduced or stopped if we are able to separate those who test positive from those who are not infected,” she added.
Regular screening is also done, which involves taking the temperature of individuals along with information about their medical history and possible symptoms. Those with high body temperatures would be screened further to determine if their condition is associated with the novel coronavirus.
According to World Health Organisation’s statistics, there are 4,248,389 confirmed cases globally, with 292,046 deaths. In the Americas, the number of cases is 1,819,553, with 109,121 deaths.
ERC modifies operations
Noticing the constant rise in cases, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has also joined calls for Guyanese to practise social distancing, and go out only if it is absolutely necessary.
Presently, the doors of the ERC have been closed, but that body continues to operate via virtual means.
The ERC has said via a statement: “There is no existing play
…Guyana records 3 more positive cases Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle
book to combat this pernicious virus, but what is known is that having fewer gatherings, wearing of face masks, constantly washing of hands, and the use of an alcohol-based sanitiser daily would slow down the spread of the virus. In spite of the pandemic, the ERC continues to work, although its office remains closed due to the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown.”
While the body deals with complaints and matters of discrimination on the lines of ethnicity, it said that complaints can still be filed by filling out an online form on its webpage: erc.org.gy or by downloading the My ERC app.
Along with that, the ERC has been engaged in activities to continue its work on social media and virtual platforms.
“The Commission recently undertook initiatives to strengthen awareness and celebration of the Guyanese diversity. The Public Education and Awareness Unit of the ERC recently launched the ERC ‘Diversity Challenge’ on its Facebook Page, and is inviting Guyanese to celebrate their culture by visiting the page and connect especially with friends and family who are of different ethnic backgrounds.”
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) has brokered a deal with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for a salary increase to workers, after five years of wage freeze and countless protests/picketing for a better income.
In a statement, the Union explained that the interim pay rise pact will see piece-rate workers benefitting from a five per cent rise in pay; time-rated workers receiving an increase of $20 per hour, and monthly-paid staffers will receive an increase of $4100 per month. Apart from those improvements, certain increases have been approved with respect to a number of allowances disbursed.
GAWU, during an engagement with the Corporation on April 3, had proposed the implementation of the new rates retroactive to from January 2020 while the parties continue discussions regarding retroactive payments for 2019.
“The Union, at this time, re-emphasises our strong conviction that the period of retroactivity ought to commence from January 01, 2019. Our position, in this regard, takes into account that the discussions between the GAWU and the GuySuCo flowed from our 2019…It, therefore, follows the obvious logic that every single improvement ought to begin from that point as well. Additionally, the Union and the Corporation have yet to commence any discussion for 2020 and, therefore, we see the GuySuCo position as being misplaced,” the Union explained.
GAWU highlighted that as they remain committed towards discussions on the lone outstanding retroactive benefits, workers have been “badly battered” through five years of no increases. This was caused by a rise in the cost of living every year among other factors. However, GuySuCo has positioned that they cannot foster talks on retroactivity at present.
“In the intervening period, the cost of living rose significantly which deleteriously affected their standard of living. Of course, we could not ignore too, the hike in the even more acute hike in cost of living that has permeated since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Guyana. It was against that background we proposed to GuySuCo this interim arrangement.”
“We are hopeful that the Corporation would soon be able to provide the outstanding payments to its workers, who obviously are in need of the monies. We look too that the State, as it has done for its other employees, to exempt these payments from income taxes especially at this time when workers need every dollar,” the statement added.
On another note, other matters were raised, which suggest that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited – Special Purposes Unit (NICIL-SPU) has been withholding bonds to proceed with capital works. This, GAWU said, is taking its effect on productivity.
“The stance by NICILSPU has served to significantly hamstring the industry which is seeking to advance certain works in the fields [of] cane productivity and production. This charade has been ongoing now for years and seemingly there is no end in sight. At the same time, we have seen too the obvious ignorance of the issues by the powers-that-be.”
Workers from the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Sugar Estates had been waiting for a wage increase since 2015 – when the coalition Administration took office.
File photo: Picketing in front of the President’s Office for a wage hike
GAWU, GuySuCo agree on interim pay deal
11 SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS T he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for 29-year-old Donald Sheriff in relation to the murder of 33-year-old Keron Nicholson.
The suspect’s last known address is listed as Patrick’s Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Nicholson was lashed to the head with a piece of wood on March 7, 2020, and died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
It was reported that on March 7, the suspect and the victim were engaged in a heated argument which escalated into an altercation. However, Nicholson reportedly left the scene and went to another location, where the suspect attacked him with a piece of wood. Nicholson was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he subsequently died.
His relatives have expressed some concerns that the police failed to arrest any of the other men who were reportedly involved in the argument, to ascertain what had transpired.
Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Donald Sheriff is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 333-2151, 333-5564, 333-3876, 226- 6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 226- 7065, 911 or the nearest police station. According to the GPF, all information will be treated with the strictest confidence. Wanted bulletin issued for NA murder suspect
