Dear Editor,
We should be prepared for the disastrous consequences of isolation which is necessary during the pandemic of Covid-19. For married people or those cohabiting, there could be more conceptions (many unwanted or not planned for). For other people, it could mean more consumption of alcohol, drugs, depression, suicide, domestic violence and mental illness.
The streets of Linden are being washed to combat the spread of the virus but primarily hospitals should be regularly cleaned inside and outside with effective sanitisers. Police should be positioned on the perimeters of our hospitals, especially with the Coronavirus prevailing because with the likelihood of many people becoming infected with it, according to the PAHO/WHO here in Guyana, people might storm the hospitals and health centres to see their loved ones. This obviously will contribute to spreading the virus and chaos could ensue. Some Guyanese tend to be disorderly, as witnessed recently during our national and regional elections. They will not voluntarily adhere to the guidelines proposed by the experts during this pandemic, so enforcement is necessary. We are trying to monitor the points of entry at our borders but what about restricting the movements of our citizens within Guyana? At most hospitals abroad, a receptionists’ desk is located at the entrance and it is required that every visitor report there before being allowed to any other part of the building. Security guards are also present.
Businesspersons have adopted a system of allowing entry to their buildings to only a small number of people at one time. An employee stands at the entrance to supervise the procedure. However, there should also be another employee at the end of the line to ensure the system is working effectively. I noticed that an employee who was supervising the process was not insisting that those in the line remain at least six feet apart. The employee was also standing near the entrance, so she was constantly in close proximity with customers entering the building, which was hazardous to her and the customers. Organizations are also establishing sinks with soap dispensers located near their entrances for customers to wash their hands but some are not providing paper towels or a means of drying one’s hands. Also, the method of unsupervised hand washing is faulty. Cross contamination could occur when customers hold the knob of the faucet to turn on the water, then hold it again to turn it off after washing their hands.
I could probably go on ad infinitum about the catastrophic effects of this pandemic. The only good or great thing I hope will manifest when this disaster is arrested and eradicated, is that all humankind will realise their mortality, acquire a greater love and appreciation for others, count their blessings and become aware that living a wholly secular life and not a religious one, has no worth in their lives.
Yours faithfully,
Conrad Barrow
