25th of July, 2020. Region 9, Guyana, South America.
Last updated: July 25, 2020 at 20:34 pmThe Region 9 COVID-19 Medical Team, which comprises staff of the Lethem Regional Hospital, has last Wednesday, 22nd of July, 2020, conducted over 50 COVID-19 tests on residents across the North, South and Central Rupununi. This was done during a field trip across the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana in Region 9.
(Note: The COVID-19 Task Force and the COVID-19 Medical Team of Region 9 are two separate entities).
The samples were sent to Georgetown and the results are expected to return the coming week.
COVID-19 has been on the rise in the Rupununi with about 18 confirmed cases so far. Earlier this week, two elderly persons were suspected to have died from the coronavirus. The two deceased, who are elderly over the age of 60, were from the village of Potarinau in the South Central District of the Rupununi Savannahs. Although these two persons displayed symptoms of the coronavirus and were in contact with COVID positive persons, tests were not conducted to confirm that they really did die from the coronavirus.
Residents of the Rupununi are increasingly worried about the porous Guyana/Brazil border and efforts are being ramped up to stop illegal crossing.
The Rupununi Savannahs is considered one of the most ill prepared regions in Guyana to fight the coronavirus. On this note, the lockdown has dramatically affected the livelihoods of the residents of the Rupununi.
Read Story: Fundraiser Set Up to Fight Coronavirus in the Rupununi.
