No testing for COVID-19 for two days …as National lab closes for electrical works

There will be no testing of COVID-19 for the next two days due to the National Reference Laboratory being closed for electrical works, authorities here have said.

In a terse release Secretary to the National COVID-19 Task Force, Imran Khan said there will be no testing for COVID-19 on Saturday June 27th and Sunday June 28th as the National Reference Laboratory is closed for electrical works to be done.

Even as phase one of the country’s reopening process is coming to an end on July 2, there has been a sharp increase in positive cases for five days, from June 22 to 26. A total of 46 new COVID-19 cases were recorded during this period. A large number of the new cases emanated from Region One and the mining communities in Region Seven.

Recent statistics from the Ministry of Public Health detail that Region One has 49 confirmed cases while Region Seven has 34 confirmed cases, to date. On Friday Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, again called on residents in these two regions especially Moruca in Region One to heed all warnings related to precautions against the spread of COVID-19. He explained that many of the positive cases in both of these regions are asymptomatic, meaning they do not exhibit any signs and symptoms of the virus. “These persons can transmit this disease and you will not even know that they are sick because there is no sign to tell you this. I continue to urge you to wear a mask and observe the physical distance guidelines provided.”

He also pointed out that Toshaos, village councillors and mining operations’ owners have a role to play in control the spread of the virus by communicating with their people ensuring they take heed to all guidelines and advisories. “We need you to impress upon your villagers and workers the importance of what we are saying. All of the evidence points to the fact that if the guidelines are followed, the disease will be contained.” Dr. Persaud said.
While Georgetown remains the epicentre of the virus with more than 100 cases recorded, these two regions have confirmed a large percent of cases within a short period. Notably, all of the positive cases in these two regions have been recorded even as emergency measures were put in place since April 3 to prevent COVID-19 transmission.