…toshao encourages residents to get vaccinated
The village of Fair View near the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River has recorded 85 positive cases of the Coronavirus.
Toshao Bradford Allicock told the Village Voice on Wednesday that the first case was recorded in mid-May and he suspects the disease may have been taken to the village by persons who work at the Kurupukari Crossing on the pontoon.
Allicock said that a three week lockdown is in effect and according to him, residents were alarmed when a 1-year old as well as a 3- year old tested positive for the disease. He said the cases are a mixture of the young and elderly persons, adding that one death has been recorded thus far. Another elderly resident was referred to the Lethem Regional Hospital for treatment.
The village captain said that following the tests, medical teams from the Ministry of Health undertook vaccination exercises at Fair View and according to him, more than three quarters of the 400 population has receive the first those of the vaccine. He said the village council is urging those persons who could not be vaccinated for various reasons to get vaccinated.
“We have been talking to everyone and we still continue to ask them to consider getting the vaccine,” the village leader said.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs noted a week ago that tests and first dose of vaccine were recently administered from three locations in the Iwokrama Forest, namely the Iwokrama River Lodge, Iwokrama Mill-site and Fair View village.
Fair View is also experiencing the effects of prolonged rainfall. The village captain noted that water level in the nearby Essequibo River has risen beyond its banks and several farms at the village have been inundated.
He said the rains continue to pour in the area and persons are taking all the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves.
