The Public Health Ministry is once again sounding the alarm over the skyrocketing cases of the coronavirus in neigbouring Brazil and the threat to communities in southern Guyana.

While announcing that Guyana has recorded no new cases over the past 24hrs, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud today expressed grave concern over the situation in Brazil and the possibility of imported COVID-19 cases from that country.

“The Ministry is gravely concerned with the alarming situation emerging just across and along our borders, as our indigenous brothers and sisters are at extremely high risk for the influx of imported cases and for contracting the disease”, Dr. Persaud said.

The authorities in the Rupununi region which borders Brazil have been calling for a lockdown of the Region. The region has reported just one case of the coronavirus so far, but there is concern that the numbers could climb with the threat next door and local persons ignoring the health measures.

The Chief Medical Officer said the way citizens are going about their business as if the pandemic does not exist flies in the face of health workers and their efforts.

 “To complicate issues, we continue to witness the downright nonchalance of our residents who are intent on carrying on with their laissez-faire lifestyles, seemingly unappreciative of the selfless efforts of our Frontline workers who are risking their lives for our protection. Is this callous attitude going to persist until Guyana is swarmed with a high number of deaths?”

Dr. Persaud said the efforts in limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease are dependent on everyone since a rise in cases could overwhelm the health authorities.

The Health Ministry also reported today that five more persons have recovered from the coronavirus in Guyana, taking the total number of recoveries up to 67. There are still 61 active cases in the country

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