The Corona has Stricken NY Guyanese Hard

Apr 20, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

Richmond Hill and Flatbush are two of the most populated and bustling areas for Guyanese in America; there are several other enclaves of Guyanese. The two are among the liveliest outer areas of New York City, known for people who love to live life outdoors in the streets, roti shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, fast foods, parks, picnics, and so many Guyanese centered activities. But over the last month, life has not been normal with peoples’ lives upended.
When the holiest periods for Hindus (Navratri, Hanuman Jayanti, Arya Samaj foundation), Jews (Passover), and Christians (Good Friday and Easter) were observed, people have been confined indoors by a somewhat of a lockdown brought on by the Corona pandemic. The normal boisterous streets (of Little Guyana, Cypress Hills, Jamaica, Flatbush, Parkchester, among others that are centers of Guyanese shopping) teeming with people are still. Sadly, in Richmond Hill, Flatbush, and other business areas, the quiet has death in the air – with several victims, including many, many Guyanese, from the virus. The corona is deadly among Guyanese – hard hit in Richmond Hill, Jamaica, Queens Village – dozens dead and hundreds, if not thousands positive with some on life support. It is advised that those who tested positive fight the virus at home. Many with symptoms have not been tested because of shortage of test kits.
The quiet dead of the day or night is often punctuated by sirens of ambulances fetching the suspect Corona stricken sick to Jamaica or Maimonides or some other nearby hospitals. Every few minutes one hears an ambulance. Then there is the occasional police car with blinking lights patrolling Flatbush and Liberty Avenues to ensure all is well and hydrants are not blocked as people try to park and purchase groceries at West Indian stores; police not strict on issuing tickets for violations. Food prices have almost doubled and there are also scarcities; some basic medical supplies are in shortage.
The bustle so common within Guyanese communities has now gone into homes where everyone is locked up; they invade each other’s space in small residences or apartments. That is how the virus is transmitted. One carrier infects an entire family.
People do get around because essential workers must provide service. The public transport, including buses and trains, runs, but with less frequency than during normal times. However, buses and trains local trains are almost empty. The trains and buses are regularly cleaned with disinfectant. Yet, most avoid mass transit to protect themselves from the virus and those who use mass transit ‘mask up’ and also have on other protective gear. Millions lost their jobs including thousands of Guyanese who are now on the breadline. Government is shoring up the unemployed with benefits.
At home, people are mostly watching news, press conferences of the Mayor, Governor, and President. The TV news is focused mostly on the coronavirus pandemic and its deathly impact on city, state and country and the varied efforts to provide for those stricken by the virus. Many are on the Internet browsing or interacting with others via various social networks. They watch movies and or play online video games. They are bingeing on various TV series. Technically savvy youngsters play games; schools are closed thru September. And people tend to eat a lot putting on weight (not good for diabetes prone people); some take to dharoo. Some engage in exercise on stationary equipment. And like me, some drink warm liquids throughout the day hoping that would ward off the virus; so far, I am virus free. I also read and write throughout the day on the diaspora. In addition, I take long walks for over an hour around my block to break the boredom of being home.
The daily deadly toll in numbers continue sadly. Over 200,000 have been confirmed to suffer from the COVID-19 virus in NYC. In NYC, it is over 131K with over 9K dead including over 75 Guyanese. A glimmer of hope is that people are recovering from the virus; NYC recorded over 18K and many who had the disease and not tested also recovered. The latter have not been counted in official numbers as are several Guyanese who died from the disease but are not listed as victims.
Beyond the numbers, there are names of so many who lost their loved ones; some are well known, prominent among the closely knit Guyanese in Queens. Each victim has a story of how he or she became a victim of this terrible pandemic. The virus ran rampant on the elderly and the sick, many of whom were already weakened by other ailments like high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, and other ailments. So many in the community are hospitalized as serious cases with others stricken at home with moderate symptoms. Many Guyanese victims are also care workers at medical centers and home care attendants; many lack adequate basic protective equipment including masks.
The frontline soldiers in this battle against an unseen enemy are the medical staff, the doctors and nurses, assistants, auxiliary staff, cleaning staff, and pharmacists. One cannot leave out truck drivers and supermarket staff and those who deliver food to homes. And the police who try to keep the streets and homes safe from preying criminals and crooks disguised as helpers. Regrettably, some frontline soldiers fell victim to this pandemic. Medical staff and workers at shops, including Guyanese, were/are diagnosed with the virus. Some died while others are recovering. More Guyanese victims are expected because of lack of social distancing at home; the number of casualties will grow.
The high human cost of the pandemic is being partly attributed to the slow response by the federal, state, and local authorities. There are criticisms on the slow response as well as on low investment on health. New York was slow to implement lockdown measures. The US, as indeed many other countries, did not invest significantly over the last two decades on improvement of public health, partly due to the financial crisis. Initially, the US did not take the pandemic seriously as it was in distant China and Europe and these countries had suffered pandemics before without much effect on the US. The US also provided help to other countries in January and February in the globalized world. And so when stricken, the US was initially handicapped by inadequate virus testing kits, not enough hospital beds for Intensive Care treatment, and shortage of gowns (the PPEs) and masks. Oxygen ventilators were also in short supply.
There were stories of just a week ago emerging of doctors playing God of having to choose who gets a test and the full treatment and who were left out given the lack of equipment and shortage of beds. Those who had slim chance of survival were ignored in favor of those who have a better chance. The older folks were neglected in favor of younger folks. Some died in the corridors of hospitals. Now, America seems better equipped and supplies are pouring in as doctors are attending to everyone; virtually no one is denied a ventilator in NYC.
The federal government has promised to help meet the costs of the health crisis that has been leveling off. But NYC and the Guyanese community seem far from safe; it may take another month to get a handle of the crisis.

Yours Truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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