With hinterland regions continuing to record COVID-19 cases, Director of the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat (NCTFS) Nazrul Hussain yesterday disclosed that screening points will be established in three regions to monitor persons returning to the coastland during the Christmas Season.
Hussain revealed that screening points will be established at Baramita in Region One, Puruni in Region Seven and on the Unamco Road in Region Ten. He stated that this is an effort between the NCTFS, the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Joint Services and the Guyana Geology and Mines Com-mission (GGMC).
Although several screening points were established around the country since the beginning of the pandemic in Guyana, Hussain noted, these will be established particularly to address the issues of miners returning home to spend the Christmas holidays and to ensure that persons leaving COVID-19 hotspots in the hinterland do not spread the virus wherever their destination may be.
The initiative, which is another aspect of COVI-Curb, will be launched later this week. Hussain noted that they are not only targeting miners, but loggers and other persons who are travelling to the coast as well.
He said that the screening points will be occupied by nurses who will monitor travelers and conduct antigen testing, where necessary along with members of the Joint Services who provide security for the healthcare workers.
For now, he noted that this initiative will only run for the Christmas season but if results are favourable they will consider extending the operation. “This is just an initial phase,” Hussain stressed.
