Public Health Advisory on Coronavirus

UPDATE on the COVID-19 (GUYANA) situation by Hon. Minister of Public Health (March 25. 2020)

Good day, Members of the Media, I wish to update the Nation on the present situation globally and in Guyana regarding COVID-19 as of March 24, 2020

1. Number of confirmed cases globally has reached the staggering number of 332,930
2. with the number of deaths globally standing at 14,510
3. The number of confirmed cases regionally stands at 37, 016
4. with a total number of 465 deaths in the Region of the Americas
5. With regard to the number of confirmed cases in Guyana, the number remains at 5 in (Region #4). When we break it down by major age groups, we have 1 child and four (4) adults under 60.
6. The number of deaths in Guyana remains at 1 in (Region 4)
7. We have a number of persons quarantined by MoPH:
   • Under mandatory quarantine, there are 9 persons
   • and the number of persons in mandatory isolation by MoPH is 4
8. Number of persons of interest being followed:
   • 1 (In total, there were 7, but 6 have been ruled out)
9. With regard to the number of persons receiving psychosocial support services,
   • All persons quarantined and in isolation are to be provided with support from the Mental Health Unit, MOPH with support from the Ministry of Social Protection.
10. The number of calls received through the toll-free lines or our Hotline:
    • Total # of calls – 543 – 90% Region #4
11. Since the last Press Conference, the Ministry’s response re 8 pillars set out by WHO is as follows:
    1. Country-level coordination, planning and monitoring.
       • Discuss all the multi-sectoral, multi-partner coordination: IAEA, Rotary, PAHO, UNICEF, IOM, Guyanese in the Diaspora
       • Engagement with key national sector
       • Strategic planning and assessment
       • Establishment of the Health EOC

The Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), continues to implement the National Strategic Plan, meeting every 48 hours for updates in an effort to monitor the COVID-19 situation, to mitigate the spread of the disease. Regional preparedness is also ongoing. Also,

1. There is an adequate supply of testing kits and PPEs for our medical personnel,
2. Continuous education of the public through various media is ongoing; (messages have been translated in 4 indigenous dialects, Wapichan, Makushi, Akawaio, Patamona; currently we are working on the messages for persons living with disability and through some of our International partners, we are working on translations into other languages for our migrant population)
3. Regarding the Multi-sectoral, multi-partner coordination, the Ministry of Public Health continues to work closely with the Agencies above (UNICEF, PAHO/WHO , Rotary, IAEA, IOM.
4. The other 7 WHO pillars that we have looked at are as follows:

• Risk Communication and Community Engagement activities.
• Surveillance, rapid response teams and case investigation
• Points of Entry
• National Laboratory
• Infection Prevention and Control-
• Case management
• Operational support and logistics

Please do note that all I have just listed are the areas of intervention which touched on the 8 WHO mandated pillars.

 Best wishes to all and whatever you do, please stay safe!!!

 Remember Social Distancing and Hygienic Practices

Thank You.

PUBLIC NOTICE: TESTING FOR COVID-19

The Ministry of Public Health and PAHO/WHO would like to inform the general public that the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) is solely authorized to test for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This facility also is the only one in Guyana with the capacity to perform the approved test. Any suspected case should be tested   using available molecular test at the NPHRL. The NPHRL provides the specific procedures for collection of samples and can also request for testing to be done

Suspected cases can fall within three categories. These categories specifically includes patient with acute respiratory illness , travel history to country reporting local transmission, persons who have been in contact with confirm cases among  other clinic outlines prompting a test.s, Director of the local laboratory said Saturday.