COVID infections remain on the rise in Region Nine

-suspicion grows over presence of variant

Bryan Allicock
Bryan Allicock

COVID-19 cases continue to rapidly increase in Region Nine, with Masakenari and Parabara becoming the latest indigenous communities to report outbreaks of the virus.

In an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock said that there are 104 active cases of the virus in the region presently. He said these cases are distributed between communities in the North, Central, South and Deep South districts of the Rupununi.

“The entire region is affected,” Allicock said, while noting that even isolated indigenous communities, such as Masakenari and Parabara, are now reporting 14 and 17 confirmed COVID-19 cases, respectively.

With Region Nine located close to the Brazil border, Allicock mentioned fears of a new strain of COVID-19 being imported, saying that the virus appears to be spreading more rapidly than before. “It’s a different strain of the virus,” he said.

Just across the border in neighbouring Brazil, COVID-19 figures are spiking as the country continues to battle a new wave of the virus which scientists say is due to two new COVID-19 variants circulating in the country.

Given the proximity of the border and prevalent illegal cross-border travel, Allicock believes that one or both of the COVID-19 variants from Brazil are in the country. In this regard, Communications Officer of the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) Immaculata Casimero revealed that some 11 persons recently came over to Guyana using a back track route and were headed to Masakenari but they were intercepted in Katoonarib and placed under quarantine.

With cases increasing in the South Rupununi, Casimero said there is a need for medical staff at the Aishalton District Hospital as the nurse who was taking care of COVID-19 patients contracted the virus. In total, Aishalton has recorded 44 COVID-19 cases, inclusive of one death. Toshao Michael Thomas revealed that they are awaiting the results of 16 more persons but testing has slowed in the community.

He stated that lockdown seems to be very effective as hardly anyone is displaying symptoms of the virus. “The lockdown really helped us and a lot of persons have been discharged so we have no plans on extending the lockdown,” he commented.

Other communities are also hoping to lock down the communities but many are waiting until a new village council is installed with National Toshao Elections ongoing in the area this week.

In Parabara, she said, the Village Council is planning to impose a month-long lockdown to stop the spread of the virus. Other affected communities such as Karaudarnau and Maruranau have imposed measures. Karaudarnau has one active case while Maruranau has 11.

Both Thomas and Casemiro say that more testing should be done in the area as it is evident that the virus has made its way to many communities in the South Rupununi. Vaccinations are ongoing and according to Casimero the response has been good.

Meanwhile, Allicock said they recently asked Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony if any progress was made in the confirmation about the presence of a possible variant in the country but the minister said that he was not certain but it appears that there is one.