The small, remote and isolated town of Lethem in Region 9 has today, 11th of May, 2020, confirmed its first case of the deadly and contagious coronavirus. As a result, residents of Lethem are in a state of heightened alert and even panic.
The test results of the man who was suspected of having the coronavirus a few days ago has come back positive for the novel coronavirus. The man reportedly arrived at the Lethem Regional Hospital on the evening of 8th of May, 2020. He presented symptoms consistent with coronavirus such as diarrhea, nausea and very high fever.
At first, the case was treated as a malaria case, but he was later placed in an isolation facility and samples were sent to Georgetown for testing. Today, May 11th, 2020, residents of Lethem received the shock of their lives as the test came back positive for coronavirus.
Some people have speculated that, after taking in ill and having spent several days in Bonfim, the man was transported illegally across the border on the night of May 8th and brought to the Lethem Regional Hospital.
One staff of the Lethem Regional Hospital has related to this publication that the careless manner in which the case was handled has put his life and that of several other staff, as well as their families in jeopardy.
Presently, traces are being done to identify persons who might have come in contact with the infected man and who may therefore be at risk and in need of quarantine.
The infected man is presently being treated at an isolation facility in Lethem.
