Guyana continues to fight Covid-19, the viral disease which as killed over 1000 Guyanese, globally, since March 2020. It is responsible for the lost of tens of thousands of jobs.
Our students have and are continuing to lose, thousands of hours of face-to-face classes.
As Guyana’s fight against Covid-19 continues, we take a look at the evidence of how individually and collectively we have impacted the fight.
A 52 years old woman who suffered from hypertension and diabetes was the first recorded case in Guyana. She had travelled from New York, bringing with her Covid-19 to Guyana on 11 March 2020.
Incoming international passenger flights were not allowed from 18 March, for 14 days. This after the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority had closed the country’s airports. The closure of all schools then followed.
On 30 March, the leadership of Region 10 imposed a curfew which saw businesses offering services for fewer hours daily. The then Minister of Health adopted a similar approach nationally. All residents of Guyana where then restricted to their homes/yards from 3 April from 6PM to 6AM during the national curfew.
One of the most daunting challenges from day one was coping financially. Coping mentally soon became and remains the biggest, even though we don’t talk about it.
Understanding the need for Guyana to achieve herd immunity, national vaccination started on 5 March this year. Efforts to access vaccines by the Government of Guyana started in January 2021. Target governments were China, India, the United Arab Emirates and Russia for vaccines. They also approached manufacturers and agencies including COVAX, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
Guyana needs to achieve herd immunity to fully return to pre 11 March 2020 freedoms. Freedoms like losing the NO MASK NO ENTRY policy in some public and private businesses and spaces.
The nationwide vaccination drive started and continues to achieve small wins but with many challenges. Vaccine hesitancy remains a national concern, especially the sharing of information with seeks to deliberately confuse.
Those who have been submitting false COVID-19 TEST RESULTS, should please note that they will be fined $250,000 fine per result submitted. Those who are selling vaccination cards/books should take note.
Guyanese creatives have made a few songs and created events influenced by effects of the pandemic. At the same time, hundreds of businesses have either closed or opened.
Many teachers and parents want their children back in school. Many don’t want to be vaccinated though. The only way, according to the President of Guyana, that schools will reopen is if it is safe for our children.
