– residents becoming complacent, tired
By Vishani Ragobeer
EVENING that while the native community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, on the Soesdyke / Linden Highway, has been experiencing another spike in the number of residents infected with the COVID-19 virus, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, no worries. of people being re-infected.
“Re-infections are not the causes we have seen in Mission St. Cuthbert … it’s not what we’re seeing, we’re seeing new people who are now getting the infection, “the minister explained on Monday, during his daily COVID-19 Update with the Department of Public Information (DPI) ).
Re-infections occur when someone who was previously infected with the virus, COVID-19, becomes infected again. Studies are still ongoing to determine how re-infection occurs with the coronavirus, but Minister Anthony previously told the Guyana Chronicle that people could potentially be re-infected with COVID-19 if they have been exposed to another strain of the virus.

Guyana is not yet able to determine whether newer variants of the virus have been imported from the United Kingdom (UK), Brazil or South Africa where newer more transmissible variants have been discovered in recent weeks. However, by the end of this week, samples that appeared to be ‘abnormal’ are expected to be analyzed.
The minister also noted that some of the newer cases recorded in the community had been recorded in children at the school there. But, like most other infected individuals, they do not exhibit any symptoms. The ministry has allowed these asymmetrical individuals to isolate at home and has been monitoring those individuals so that the necessary steps can be taken should they develop any signs or symptoms associated with COVID-19. A medical team is present in the community, carrying out tests and liaising with residents.
Meanwhile, Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Beverley Clenkian, said during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, that residents are becoming complacent with the guidelines in place to protect against COVID-19.
According to the toshao, people traveling in and out of the community do not take as many precautions as they did before. This may have contributed to the spike in these cases again. He also said that residents appear to be tired of these guidelines as the community had already experienced lock-in only in November, last year.
However, he said the village council is trying to reinforce the need to adhere to the social isolation and sanitation guidelines, so that the spread of the virus can be mitigated. He also highlighted that the council was engaging with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to provide hampers and supplies to some of the residents, while they were isolating.