The pandemic in Guyana

Jan 31, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

As the pandemic is raging across the globe and with the new strains detected in Brazil, South Africa and the UK, some of which are more contagious and reports that one strain is more deadlier, most countries are taking measures to protect their citizens. Some are closing their borders, introducing new restrictions and measures while the rich are vaccinating their at risk and health officials. Guyana on the other hand, which has no capacity to handle an alarming increasing daily cases, no vaccine in sight to vaccinate its vulnerable population is opening up. Bars are now allowed to operate at 40 percent capacity. Now tell me who will monitor a bar or rum shop where people are intoxicated, arguing and “gaffing” away? Can the bar owner tell a drunk crowd to disperse because of the 40 percent rule? This will certainly lead to mayhem. If one of the new strains is already in Trinidad, which has not fully opened its border, what makes one think it’s not here already with Brazil just next door? Manaus is out of oxygen, this city is well connected to Boa Vista, which is close to Lethem. The Brazil strain is most likely here undetected and what makes it worse is that we don’t have the capacity to test for the newer strains. The airport should be closed at least until the second wave has passed and our most vulnerable are vaccinated. When one looks at what is happening at the markets, in minibuses, schoolchildren on the road after school and even the activities carried out by government, its total madness because there is no social distancing and the majority of people are not wearing mask. The government, up to now, has not made attempts to secure vaccines from India when other countries in CARICOM has done so. Editor, these developments are quite worrying and we must do everything we can to protect our Guyanese people and not endanger their lives.

B. John

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