COVID-19 hotspot – South Ruimveldt receives mobile testing unit
-Available until Monday
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, May 17, 2020
The Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 mobile testing unit is stationed in the community of South Ruimveldt to screen residents from Saturday through Monday between 09:00 to 15:00 hours.
The mobile testing unit is located on the corner of Aubrey Barker Road and Blue Sackie Drive – commonly known as the “Exit.”
Dr. Keon Harmon, a family medicine resident and head of the mobile unit, explained that persons are screened before they are tested.
Screening is available to everyone and involves a series of questions which will determine the likelihood of exposure to the coronavirus. If they meet the criteria for testing then a sample will be taken for testing at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
Speaking on the significance of the mobile testing unit in one of the COVID-19 hotspots, Dr. Harmon said, “it is very important because of the level of exposure persons might have had with persons who have been exhibiting symptoms. Contact tracing is very important for us to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
Dr. Harmon relayed that since the unit has been in the area on May 16, 30 persons have been screened with samples taken from 16.
Resident, mother of three, and grandmother of one, Simone Winter urged all Guyanese to take COVID-19 seriously and advised them to come out and get tested.
“My family and I were tested because we came into contact with someone who had the disease and for that reason, I think COVID-19 is very dangerous, and it’s important to get tested.”
Winter appealed to persons to wear face masks and adhere to every health precautions set in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19. She shared how she has been keeping safe.
“Since the pandemic, my family and I have been washing our hands regularly. We are [practising] social distancing and keeping in touch with our loved ones through Whatsapp’s video chat and Zoom.”
Central Georgetown has been labelled as the epicentre of the pandemic, with positive cases ranging from Kitty, Sophia, Turkeyen, Liliendall, Cummings Lodge, Albertown, Cummingsburg (North Georgetown), and Bourda, Lamaha Park, South Ruimveldt and Thirst Park (South Georgetown).
Mobile testing units will assist in reducing the number of persons seeking screening and testing at hospitals.
As of May 16, 2020, Guyana currently has recorded a total of 117 confirmed cases of COVID-19.