Herstelling and Paradise COVID-19 testing sites still operational

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony says adequate COVID-19 testing sites have been set up in all regions to ensure facilities are easily accessible to everyone.    

During Friday’s COVID-19 update, Minister Anthony said testing was done primarily in regional hospitals; however, more sites have been added where necessary.   

“We have teams of doctors and other personnel who have been trained to provide testing, and that’s available at these hospitals. In addition to that, what we have started doing is adding some additional sites where we think it’s necessary, so, like in Region Four because of the big population that we have here, we have had a testing site at Herstelling and one at Paradise and one in Georgetown.” 

Concerning the Herstelling and Paradise sites, Minister Anthony is reminding the public that those two facilities are still operating. Additionally, Dr. Anthony said the COVID-19 mobile testing unit goes wherever an increase in cases has been recorded on the coast.

“Our doctors and other personnel would go from time to time into various communities and spend a day or two there and offer testing. So, this mobile unit really operates more on the coastline moving from different communities, and the movement of that unit really depends on where we are seeing a little outbreak or spike in cases.”

For remote communities, the National COVID-19 Task Force usually dispatches medical teams directly to those areas where they would do more mass testing of the community. 

Earlier this week, two additional testing sites were set up in East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) following an increase of COVID-19 cases in that region. Those testing sites are located at the New Amsterdam and Skeldon Hospitals. 

The Region has also established testing sites at Rose Hall, Port Mourant and Orealla/Siparuta where there was a recent outbreak.