Region 9 COVID-19 Cases Climb Past 100

6th of August, 2020. Region 9, Guyana, South America.

Sharing a miles-long and very porous border with Brazil, Region 9 has now become one of the Regions of Guyana most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Region 9 had for months evaded the coronavirus pandemic due to its remoteness from the city of Georgetown as well as the closure of the Guyana/Brazil border in March, 2020.

This changed when the first case was imported from Brazil after a resident of Bonfim crossed over illegally into Lethem. The subsequent cases were also a result of illegal border crossings which accelerated after the closure of the Guyana/Border. The REO of Region 9, Mr. Carl Parker, working desperately to secure the Region, had accused Toshaos of shielding residents of remote indigenous villages who had crossed illegally from Brazil. The Toshaos in turn took to the media to rebuff these accusations. Nevertheless, coronavirus infections continued to climb in Region 9 – especially in remote indigenous communities.

As of today, 6th of August, 2020, there are reported to be a total of 102 cumulative coronavirus cases for Region 9. Of these, 5 persons have recovered and one person has died, leaving a total of 96 active COVID-19 cases in Region 9.

The cases are spread out across the Region as follows:

South-Central District

Katuur – 8

Baitoon – 8

Quiko – 5

Potaranau – 33

Sandcreek – 1

Total South-Central COVID-19 Cases: 55

North Rupununi

Aranaputa – 12

Annai – 3

Wowetta – 20

Rupertee – 2

Total North Rupununi COVID-19 Cases: 37

Central Rupunui

Lethem – 4 (Imported from Brazil)

St. Ignatius – 1

Quarrie – 1

Total Central Rupununi COVID-19 Cases: 10

The COVID-19 Medical Team of Region 9

The COVID-19 Medical Team of Region 9 is a separate entity from the COVID-19 Task Force of Region 9. The COVID-19 Medical Team of Region 9 consists of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals of the Lethem Regional Hospital. In addition to treating COVID-19 patients, over the past several weeks, the COVID-19 Medical Team of Region 9 has made several long and arduous journeys across the rugged Rupununi trails and tested hundreds of residents of the Rupununi.

Coronavirus Across Guyana

As of today, August 6th, 2020, Guyana has recorded a total of 509 COVID-19 cases. Of these, 22 patients have died and 189 recovered, leaving a total of 298 active cases.

Aside from Region 9, Region 7 has been noted as one of Guyana’s most heavily affected regions with a total of 104 cases.

Region 1, which was at one time Guyana’s most heavily infected Region, was recently declared to be COVID-19 free. Some residents of Region 1 have come out to say that daily exercises and the use of herbal medicines were significant factors in helping to eliminate coronavirus from that Region.