A lockdown that was instituted at Kwebanna, in Region One, has been extended by another week to ensure that the COVID-19 outbreak in the community is under control, resulting in a call by the Village Council for assistance to help residents who did not prepare for additional time at home.
Toshao Paul Pierre told Stabroek News yesterday that the lockdown instituted by the Village Council has been extremely effective as the community now has less than 20 active COVID-19 cases.
The two-week lockdown, which was instituted by the Village Council, ended on Sunday but regional officials recommended that the residents of Kwebanna observe travel restrictions for an additional week in order to ensure there is no further transmission of the virus.
Pierre said that he is in agreement with the lockdown but said that the Village Council cannot provide help to those who may be in need of more supplies. As a result, he has approached the regional authorities for assistance in this regard.
Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley yesterday explained that the additional week of lockdown for Kwebanna was recommended by health authorities but assured that the region is doing what it can to ensure that residents are able to sustain themselves during this time.
He said when he spoke to the Toshao he was unable to commit to providing food hampers for the residents but he noted that villagers are still being allowed to fish and go to their farms during the lockdown.
Pierre reported that the COVID-19 situation in Kwebanna is stabilising and those currently infected with the virus are not exhibiting any severe symptoms.
He noted, however, that samples were being taken from persons residing in a part of the community that wasn’t tested before and this has resulted in some persons from the community being found to be positive.
However, he said by the time this week is over these persons would’ve recovered. He added that since the deaths of two villagers many persons living in the community have been more careful.
He then referred to his own experience and said that there are a lot of people who have to acknowledge that COVID-19 is real and the fact that the COVID-19 situation in Kwebanna is stabilising doesn’t mean that people can be reckless.
“COVID-19 will have some drastic impacts on people and that is why people have to be cautious and not take eliminating the spread of the virus for granted. So to my fellow Guyanese, keep being safe and ensure that you follow the rules and regulations imposed by the authorities and should they become careless things would be worse,” he said.
He is advising persons to work with the health authorities and abide by the regulations that have been instituted so that COVID-19 can be eradicated.
Meanwhile, Ashley has said that the region is also preparing for other communities in Region One to go into lockdowns. He revealed that the Haimacabra Island, which is part of Waramuri, has been under lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. “Because of that, the Waramuri Secondary Department will not be opened, as well as Kwebanna, as well as Kamwatta as well as Warapoka,” he said, while adding that the only school that was opened yesterday (Monday) is Santa Rosa Secondary and that is only catering for the grade 11 students. He added that once this week is over, a reassessment will be conducted to explore the possibility of allowing students from other grade levels to go back to schools.
