Dear Editor,
Thank you for allowing me the space to pen an opinion on the current state of the pandemic in Guyana. For a country with a small population the numbers of deaths and serious illness should have been a cause for concern a month ago. The government has kept the same COVID report that was in place during the previous administration. What citizens really need is a dashboard with drop down features by region so we can access where virus hotspots are, what age groups are being impacted and where vaccinations are available. In this age of data and information, statistics must be shared while maintaining individuals’ confidentiality. In a country like Guyana one would also expect that contact tracing would not be an arduous task to implement. This would enable communication to associates of mildly ill or asymptomatic persons who can then quarantine themselves to avoid further spread. Contact tracing can also provide employment to the many who are suffering from the economic effects of the pandemic. Why aren’t we looking at the countries who have successfully managed to contain the spread of the virus and emulating their methodologies? Covid-19 is a disease that tests the level of our selfishness and without concern for the welfare of others we are doomed.
Sincerely,
R. Singh
