Since Guyana began screening for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the country’s main port of entry, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, to date approximately 97 persons, who travelled from places with confirmed cases of the disease, were asked to self-isolate after leaving the airport.
This was revealed by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud yesterday. He spoke at the Coronavirus Disease Symposium, hosted by the Ministry of Public Health at the National Cultural Centre.
Late yesterday, it was confirmed that Guyana had its first case of COVID-19. A woman, aged 52, died.
Persaud, at the symposium said that the ministry has asked immigration officials to pay keen attention to persons travelling from areas that have been affected by the coronavirus. Those persons are required to undergo medical screening. Persaud said considering that there are numerous outbreaks of the disease all over the world, they have expanded the list of countries from which travellers are required to undergo screening.
However, since the United States has not been added to that list, only persons who are experiencing flu-like symptoms are screened when travelling from the US. Persons travelling from China, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Korea, among other countries, have to be screened. Persaud said that they are recommending that persons coming from Iran, the United Kingdom and Jamaica, be screened after taking into consideration the recent cases in those countries.
The CMO said the 97 persons were screened and asked to self-isolate once they left the airport. Health ministry personnel checked-in daily with those persons to ensure that they were not experiencing any symptoms of the disease. He noted that thus far, that process has worked well. In addition to the 97 persons, he added that 12 Guyanese, who were studying abroad, were screened but those were treated as separate cases.
Of the 97 persons, Persaud revealed that 64 were from China, all of whom entered Guyana over the last several weeks. Eight persons were from Korea, five from Malaysia, eight from Italy, four from Japan and one each from several other countries that are on the list for screening.
He noted that some of those persons, excluding the Chinese nationals, refused to cooperate but after explaining why it was necessary, they complied.
However, the CMO related that up until yesterday, no one was placed in quarantine. There were a few cases of home isolation and they have managed to keep in contact with most of the persons that were screened. However, Persaud said that one Chinese national left the country before the 14 days period to self-isolate was up and as a result they lost contact with her. He added that out of the remaining 33 persons, they were able to adequately follow up only 22 on a routine basis. In addition, he said, four of those persons went out to the oil rig while others left before the 14 days were up.
Additionally, Persaud revealed that only seven of the 97 persons have reported that they were unwell following their arrival into the country; four were Chinese and three were from other countries.
Using the case definition, they were able to identify two suspected cases. The two persons were tested but when the results came back, both were negative for COVID-19. Persaud said that 52 persons were taken off surveillance after 14 days and 28 persons are still being monitored. They have lost a few persons who were under surveillance.
Currently, Persaud revealed, they have one laboratory to test for the disease but if the situation changes, measures will be put in place for testing to be done across the regions. “We are working with all our partners to look at however we can ensure that we prepare for this period. We have all the facilities in place,” he noted.
Confirmed
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr Karen Gordon said that although the ministry has been doing everything in their power to prevent and prepare for a potential outbreak, there is still a lot to be done and the ministry does not have everything they need if there is an outbreak. She said that the limited personnel in the response teams need to be increased. She revealed that there are currently systems in place whereby persons can register to join the response teams. While there are different categories and functions, she said, everyone who volunteers will be sensitised and trained.
The DCMO indicated that they have instructed health personnel in all the regions to ensure that they have persons ready to be first-line responders in an event there an outbreak. She especially encouraged retired health personnel to be part of response teams, adding that they do not only need persons in the health sector, but others who can lend a hand to establish a hospital for the sole purpose of isolation.
Continuing, Gordon stated that there is no need to panic and until there is a confirmed case there is no need to wear masks. She explained that if persons begin wearing masks now, if there is an outbreak, it may lead to shortages. The DCMO spoke prior to Guyana’s first case of COVID-19 being confirmed yesterday.
Addressing the systems in place at the various port of entry, Gordon said that travellers are required to fill out the immigration form especially the part stating where they have travelled in the past six months. If they have travelled to any of the countries that have confirmed cases of COVID-19, those persons will have to be screened and if there are no flu-like symptoms, those persons are allowed to leave and self-isolate. She added that the laws of Guyana states that they can refuse entry to a non-resident but they will be unable to do so if the persons who has flu-like symptoms is a Guyanese.
If they do have symptoms, the ministry will immediately begin contact tracing protocols. The DCMO disclosed that the CJIA has identified an area that they can use for isolation in the event there is some-one with flu like symptoms at the airport. She said that she is hoping that other ports of entry can do the same.
In the meantime, the ministry has begun sensitising and training various health personnel. According to Gordon, they have deployed eight additional medics at each port of entry. However, they are depending on the honesty of travelers as it relates to the places they have visited before coming to Guyana. Despite that, she said, they need more persons to be available if there is an outbreak and they are willing to provide training and orientation. Training has been done at the CJIA and Ogle airport, as well as at the Moleson Creek, Lethem and Bartica international ports of entry. The ministry is yet to train persons at seaports.
Gordon said that they have already visited various ports of entry and identified various areas where they can isolate persons. She added that they have also visited hospitals closest to those ports of entry and identified rooms which health officials can use for isolation.
She stated that Guyana is one of a few Caribbean countries that has the equipment to do laboratory testing for COVID-19. However, there is a limited supply of sample kits and they are having difficulties in accumulating more supplies so once the kits they have finishes, they will have difficulty conducting tests for COVID-19.
The DCMO advised persons that if they think they have the disease, they should not go to the hospital. Instead they should call the ministry’s hotline numbers, which are 624 5067 and 227 4986, that is being manned by seven trained persons. She said they will be conducting a sample collection exercise today.
Representative of the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization, Dr William Adu-Krow, stated that he believes Guyana is prepared for a possible outbreak and urged persons not to panic. He added that if Guyana implements travel restrictions it will be understandable.
Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence also indicated at the event that all isolation facilities are prepared. She added that it will be the first pandemic in history that can be controlled and persons are not at the mercy of the virus.
