Just days after a COVID-19 outbreak forced the temporary closure of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training College in Port Mourant, another educational institution in Region Six is reportedly dealing with cases of the virus, raising concerns about transmission within school communities on the Corentyne.
According to a report by Kaieteur News, Port Mourant Primary School has confirmed that multiple students contracted COVID-19, prompting the school’s administration to suspend classes on Tuesday to facilitate sanitisation and other precautionary measures.
The newspaper reported that a teacher attached to the school confirmed the development, although the exact number of infected students remains unclear.
Kaieteur News further reported that the school issued an urgent notice on social media on Monday evening informing parents, students and teachers that classes would be suspended on Tuesday to allow for fumigation and sanitisation of the compound. Up to Tuesday, there had been no official indication as to when classes would resume.
The development comes less than a week after the same publication reported that more than 20 COVID-19 cases were detected among students residing at the GuySuCo Training College dormitory in Port Mourant.
According to Kaieteur News, the infected live-in students were isolated while other students were sent home as authorities sought to contain the outbreak. The newspaper also reported that classes at the institution are expected to resume on Sunday.
While health authorities have not publicly indicated whether the cases at the two institutions are linked, the back-to-back outbreaks have revived concerns about the continued circulation of COVID-19 within schools and other communal settings.
A Virus That Changed the World
COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The disease first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 before rapidly spreading across continents. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Guyana recorded its first confirmed case in March 2020 and subsequently experienced multiple waves of infection that resulted in deaths, overwhelmed healthcare resources, disrupted businesses, and led to prolonged interruptions in the education sector. Schools across the country were forced to close for extended periods as teaching shifted online and through alternative learning methods.
Although the World Health Organisation ended the global public health emergency phase of the pandemic in 2023, the virus continues to circulate worldwide and remains capable of causing localized outbreaks, particularly in environments where large groups of people interact closely.
How COVID-19 Spreads
Health experts say COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and airborne particles released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings or even breathes.
The virus is most easily transmitted in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation and can be spread by individuals who show mild symptoms or, in some cases, no symptoms at all.
Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Congestion
- Shortness of breath in more severe cases
Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure.
Testing, Vaccination and Prevention
Public health authorities continue to recommend testing for individuals experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 or those who have had close contact with confirmed cases.
Rapid antigen tests can provide results within minutes, while PCR tests remain one of the most reliable methods for confirming infection.
Vaccination also remains one of the most effective tools for reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Medical professionals continue to encourage eligible persons to remain up to date with recommended vaccinations, particularly those who are elderly or have underlying medical conditions.
To reduce the risk of infection, health authorities advise:
- Frequent handwashing with soap and water
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Staying home when ill
- Improving ventilation in indoor spaces
- Avoiding close contact with others when experiencing symptoms
- Seeking testing when COVID-19 infection is suspected
Renewed Vigilance
The reported cases at Port Mourant Primary School and the GuySuCo Training College serve as a reminder that COVID-19 has not disappeared, despite the end of the global emergency phase of the pandemic.
For parents and educators, the incidents highlight the importance of remaining vigilant, particularly in schools and dormitory settings where close contact can facilitate the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Whether the recent cases represent isolated outbreaks or a broader increase in infections in the region remains unclear. However, the developments underscore the continuing need for monitoring, early detection, and public health precautions to minimize disruptions to education and community life.
