Two non-resident Bartica students test positive for COVID 

…had travelled from outlying regions to return to school dorms

Two students at dormitories in Bartica (Region 7) have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to schools recently. One student, a female was staying at the Three Miles Secondary School dormitory and another at the Bartica Secondary School dormitory.

Speaking with the House Father of the Three Miles school dormitory, the Village Voice Guyana learned that the student just recently returned from St. Mary, Cuyuni-Mazaruni. The child has been quarantined while the others have taken COVID-19 tests.

“They have some that came in yesterday and they gone just now for testing. Their tests might come back sometime during this week,” the House Father said. There are sound 21 children there at the dormitory. The House Father said that the Ministries of Health and Education have been assisting with testing.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Region 7, Kenneth Williams also confirmed that two students coming from communities outside of Bartica tested positive for the virus after arrival. “Both of them are from the dorms. They are not resident Barticians, they’re from outlying regions,” he said, noting that they came from separate communities. He also assured that mass testing is ongoing.

Only on Monday, the Ministry of Education disclosed that, out of the 139 students being housed at the President College’s dorm, eight tested positive for the virus. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said necessary measures were being put in place to ensure the students are isolated under the Ministry’s care.

On Tuesday, the Education Ministry proposed to the College that all students take up residence at the dorm as a means of limiting outside contact to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

On the other hand, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Education’s decision to reopen schools for students preparing for the CSEC and CAPE examinations in 2021 was rushed and ill-thought out.

“As far as we know, the reopening of schools and the timing for the reopening of schools, it’s not right,” said McDonald, who has been part of several closed-door meetings between the Ministry of Education and the GTU to discuss the reopening of schools.

She added: “Children coming from different areas and having not been tested is a risk by itself. I’m not sure that the Ministry of Education understands exactly what is happening.”