A Guyanese medical student who returned from China via Suriname last evening created mayhem at the Diamond Hospital after she was taken there from the Cheddi Jagan Airport to undergo an evaluation and additional screening as part of the protocol to deal with the coronavirus. 

News Source understands that the medical student and her relatives hurled insults at the medical team on duty as the young woman feared being placed in quarantine. 

The woman reportedly showed no signs of the virus, but the medical team carried out the various protocols that are in place. 

The woman was allowed to leave the hospital and is likely to be monitored at home.  

The Diamond Hospital and the Georgetown Hospital are the two identified medical sites in Guyana being used for screening and monitoring of suspected cases.

When contacted today, the Director for Regional Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako referred all queries to the Chief Medical Officer.

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud said he has not received any report on any incident at the Diamond Hospital, although he admitted that a passenger who arrived last evening would have had to undergo some screening.

He revealed that there are nine persons who are currently under home monitoring after they arrived in Guyana from China. Those persons would have had to in-transit in other countries before reaching Guyana.

Dr. Persaud explained that once someone arrives and is screened at the airport and shows no signs of the virus, their information would be taken and they would be monitored at home. 

He said although, there are nine persons currently under home monitoring, they are not considered suspects for the coronavirus.

“We have no suspects in Guyana”, Dr. Persaud assured, as he further explained that strict guidelines are being followed in keeping with advice form the World Health Organization. 

He said among those being monitored are Guyanese students who have opted to return to Guyana from China following the outbreak of the coronavirus there. 

There are a number of Guyanese scholars studying in China. 

The Government has made a decision that it is best for them to remain there and follow the medical advice of the Chinese government as they address the outbreak of the coronavirus.  Guyana has closed down its embassy in China as the country remains fearful of the further spreading of the virus that has claimed close to 500 lives with more than 2000 being hospitalized in China.  

While many airlines that fly between the US and China and the UK and China have scaled-down those flights, many others are still operating.  

Some medical professionals are calling on the Government to release more detailed information concerning the restrictions on the travel from China and the quarantining of persons who may be returning to Guyana from China, even if they do not show signs of the coronavirus.  

The Ministry of Public Health has launched a public relations campaign to raise more awareness on the coronavirus. 

Meanwhile, on Monday night, a passenger who traveled to Trinidad and Tobago from China via the United States and Guyana was sent back to Guyana, according to Trinidad officials. 

The Guardian newspaper in Trinidad reports that the authorities there were forced to send the woman back to her last port of embarkation as it is not allowing anyone who would have been in China recently into the country. 

The passenger showed no signs of the virus and would have gone through screenings in both the US and Guyana, but Trinidad still decided to not allow her in the country. She was sent back to Guyana. 

It is unclear whether she was allowed into Guyana.  Officials at the airport are all mum on the issue and efforts to get a comment from immigration proved unsuccessful. 

Guyana has implemented its safeguards against the coronavirus with more monitoring of incoming passengers.

Those coming from China are likely to be refused entry and Guyanese who were planning to travel to China have been advised to cancel those plans. 

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