With the lockdown measures in the Moruca sub-district having been extended by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), the Regional Chairman of Region One Brentnol Ashley says that the government should consider sending relief packages since many persons are still be affected.
The Moruca sub-district has recorded a total of 85 COVID-19 cases, inclusive of one death and 36 recoveries. Santa Rosa, Waramuri and Kwebanna are the only indigenous communities that have recorded cases of COVID-19 in the Moruca sub-district.
Meanwhile, the Mabaruma sub-district has recorded 10 cases of COVID-19, inclusive of one recovery. In total, there are 95 cases of COVID-19 in the region to date.
Ashley told Stabroek News that the Regional Task Force has welcomed the extension of the lockdown measures that were imposed on the Moruca sub-district and Aranka landing in Region Seven. However, he said, many persons in Moruca are still being affected by those measures and are hoping that the government would intervene by providing relief packages to residents.
He noted that a number of organisations like the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and groups like the Santa Rosa Family and Friends have been doing their best to assist persons in the region. However, that isn’t enough and the sub-district is yet to receive any major relief from the government.
In Mabaruma, Ashley added, the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) has increased public awareness campaigns and mask distributions. He stated that they are aware that once residents are cognisant of what they are up against, they will take all the necessary precautions.
Additionally, he stated that while the Regional Task Force agreed that a partial lockdown should be imposed on the Mabaruma sub-district, they said that he will have to write to the NCTF for it to be implemented.
Ashley stressed that the health system in Mabaruma would be overwhelmed should the number of COVID-19 cases increase and they do not want what happened in Moruca to happen in the town.
