The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said the steep rise in COVID-19 cases in Guyana is as a result of the poor management of the pandemic by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, despite being repeatedly warned by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).
“In just one day we have recorded approximately 485 cases tested positive and we are not clear whether all of the testing for that period has been addressed. We are also unable to say what is the backlog in relation to specimens to be tested,” the PNCR said in a statement on Wednesday.
As of January 4, 2022, Guyana recorded a total of 40,639 confirmed cases of the virus with 485 of them recorded within the last 24 hours. According to Health Ministry, eight persons are currently fighting for their lives in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 62 persons are in institutional isolation and another 1,715 persons in home isolation. To date, 1058 COVID related deaths have been recorded.
The PNCR said it is clear there are a number of problems plaguing the operations of the COVID-19 Programme such as the lack of access to information on the circulating variants especially OMICRON; the unavailability of epidemiological data; and the closure of a number of a number of testing sites across the country. It also pointed to the shortage of test kits, and the high percentage of infected medical personnel.
This list represents a small subset of issues affecting the management of the programme that places the population at a high risk of COVID-19 infection.
It said to further compound the situation, the Education Ministry in a “blind rush” reopened schools notwithstanding the epidemiological uncertainty regarding COVID-19 and the upsurge in cases.
“In front of our very eyes we are witnessing a global upsurge and to make matters worse as a country we are unable to speak with any degree of certainty how this situation is being addressed to protect the health of the population,” the PNCR said.
It contended that the Health Ministry has no answers and as a consequence, the nation is in a major state of uncertainty.
“We are calling once again on the Government to embrace truth and transparency in providing us with the information which would guide us in taking the necessary actions to protect ourselves.
We are also encouraging our citizens to embrace public health guidelines of social distancing and masking coupled with vaccination. Let us protect ourselves and save the lives of our loved ones,” the PNCR urged.
It said the Government and, in particular, the Health Ministry and its Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony should understand that they have a responsibility to provide specific information to the citizens of this country.
“We cannot accept the Minister failing in his duty to be transparent and share the necessary information with the public to protect the health of the nation,” the party said while noting that the deteriorating situation presents not only a threat to the health of the nation but its security as well.
