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– several employees placed in isolation
Approximately five employees of Troy Resources Limited have been placed into isolation at its Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) location after showing symptoms associated with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and or dengue, Village Voice Guyana has been reliably informed.
In a notice to staff and contracted workers late last week, the management of the gold mining company indicated that there was a dengue outbreak, and steps were being taken to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all employees.
“The dengue fever is spreading rapidly and anyone that has tested positive for same needs to be isolated until there is an available outbound,” a section of the notice read. But while the notice alluded to dengue, a number of the employees, who were tested by Eureka Lab on site, reportedly informed their colleagues that they were tested positive for COVID-19.
COVID-19 affects persons in different ways, however, the common symptoms associated with the virus are fever, dry cough and tiredness. Like COVID-19, dengue brings with it a fever, however, the other symptoms are different and include nausea, vomiting, rash, aches and pain in the eyes, muscles, joints and bones.
While some of the affected were transported to the capital city – Georgetown – to be treated by the company’s private doctor, approximately five employees were placed into isolation on Sunday, October 11, 2020.
“I feel scared… because I don’t know whether I have it or not because the victims are my close associates that I work along and interact with on a daily basis,” a concerned employee told this publication.
He added: “My performance at work is being hampered due to the thought of being a victim which is putting a strain on my mental health.”
When contacted by Village Voice Guyana, Public Relations Officer, Ajay Baksh, said he is unaware of the suspected cases of COVID-19 and dengue but has committed to following up with company representatives.
The suspected outbreak at Troy Resources is taking place at a time when the country has recorded yet another COVID-19 death.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the Health Ministry disclosed that a 40-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), died from the virus while receiving treatment of one of its medical facilities. The COVID-19 death toll is now 104.
To date, Guyana has recorded 3, 469 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those affected 1,841 are males while the remaining 1,628 are females. Based on data provided by the Health Ministry, 16 COVID-19 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 113 are in institutional isolation.
Some 2,318 of the 3,469 persons tested positive for the virus have recovered.
