GPHC revamps visitation policy amid COVID-19

─screening stations established on hospital grounds

DPI, Guyana, Monday, March 30, 2020

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has amended its visitation policy to safeguard its staff, patients and visitors from the spread of the infectious novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking at a daily COVID-19 update held on Monday, GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis said the revised policy will, “see a limited number of persons being allowed to visit patients in all areas of the hospital.”

Concerning patient care, the CEO noted the hospital has multiple screening stations established on its grounds to determine whether a person is suspected to have COVID-19.

“Those areas are meant to initially check patients and ask them a number of questions on their conditions prior to them being assessed and in some cases being sent to a triage area for further assessment,” the CEO explained.

The Ministry of Public Health has advised persons who may exhibit symptoms related to COVID-19 such as dry persistent coughing, fever and other respiratory ailments to not visit the hospital, but to call hotline numbers 231-1166, 226,7480, 624-6674, 624-2819 and 624-3067 for guidance on further action to be taken.

As of Monday, March 30, 2020, there are eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guyana, with one death.