Four persons, including a three-year-old child, have tested positive for COVID-19 at Bartica as cases in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region continue to rise.
The four persons are relatives of Bartica’s first known novel coronavirus disease patient, who tested positive for the respiratory disease last Wednesday. The patient, who was displaying critical symptoms of the disease, was transferred to an isolation facility in Georgetown on the same date, while samples were taken from ten persons who had close contact with the patient.
Regional Health Officer (RHO) Edward Sagala announced yesterday that the results of nine of the ten persons had returned and four were positive. The tenth person is still awaiting their results. “All of the contacts are from Bartica and are now in institutional isolation for 14 days, as is mandated by the COVID-19 guidelines, then they will be retested,” Sagala noted.
The town has now recorded five cases of COVID-19.
Additionally, Sagala disclosed that 16 more persons, including a number of health care workers, were tested a few days ago. However, their results had not been returned up to yesterday. “We are yet to receive the results of this latter group, but will be keeping the community informed,” Sagala further said in the statement.
Meanwhile, Sagala lamented that Barticians are continuing to ignore the Ministry of Public Health’s advisories on necessary precautions to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, despite the fact that the town’s health department has been begging for them to adhere.
“Face masks are not worn; instead, individuals keep them in their bags and pockets. Social distancing is not being observed at all. Small children can be seen wandering on the road unsupervised. Where are the parents? Barticians still continue to be casual and unconcerned, despite our constant reminders that we are facing a deadly disease. As Dr& Jardine, the Medical Superintendent of the Bartica Regional Hospital, recently commented, and I quote: “I really don’t know what it will take for people to understand the seriousness of this pandemic. We have a young man struggling for his life and his family can’t even be there by his side.” These are very powerful words, and indeed, no one seems to even care,” Sagala stated.
He repeated his plea for persons to stay home and observe the national curfew before adding that they should show special care and attention to small children so as to “keep them out of harm’s way.” He added that persons should stay home and isolate themselves if they are feeling unwell.
In a video posted on Facebook, the Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall also pleaded for residents to adhere to all the precautionary measures. “All we are asking you to do is adhere to the precautionary measures that the ministry and the Emergency Health Committee… issued months ago,” he said while acknowledging the rise of COVID-19 cases in the town.
Further, he stated, he is aware that 98% of the residents of Bartica depend heavily on the mining industry for their survival and it would be very difficult for him to ask for the removal of mining as an essential service. He added that in order to avoid such a decision, residents, especially the men, should exercise the necessary precautionary measures.
“What is happening in other mining communities is, of course, devastating, to say the least, but you have a responsibility and if you know that you are at risk, we are asking you and pleading with you, please do not put your families at risk,” he concluded.
Although the exact number of cases in the region could not be confirmed by this newspaper, the Department of Public Information yesterday gave the figure as 34. It was unclear whether that number included the four Bartica cases.
