A number of credible residents of Lethem have said that there is one suspected case of coronavirus being monitored at the Lethem Regional Hospital in Region 9, Guyana, South America.
Attempts to contact the Regional Health Officer attached to the Lethem Regional Hospital for confirmation have proved futile. We were informed that he would be available until Monday, 11th May. However, the overwhelming number of credible individuals who have repeated the story consistently gave us reason to believe that it may be true.
It was reported that the man arrived at the hospital displaying symptoms consistent with the coronavirus such as high fever, nausea and vomiting. He was first treated as a malaria case but was later isolated and samples were sent to Georgetown for testing. The results of the test are presently being awaited.
Lethem has been on high alert as the coronavirus pandemic reeks havoc in neighboring Brazil. Of recent, residents were especially worried as the number of confirmed cases in Bonfim climbed to 17. Bonfim is right next door to Lethem and the Guyana/Brazil border at Lethem has been closed as a result.
Nevertheless, the porous river border is often infiltrated via a number of backtrack routes. Most residents of Lethem have family or a second home in Bonfim, and vice versa.
Residents of Region 9 are especially worried about the coronavirus due to the limited medical facility and medical professionals in the Region to combat such a deadly and contagious virus. Further, many Amerindian reserve settlements have set up gates to bar or restrict entry.
