Public, private entities being assessed for compliance with COVID-19 measures

As part of government’s strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19, the Health Emergency Operating Centre (HEOC) is carrying out visits to public and private sector entities to ensure they are in compliance with the gazetted measures.

During Wednesday’s COVID-19 update, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP stated that over 50 agencies have been visited since the exercise commenced last week. He said many of them are not in compliance with the measures.

“They have noted this and they spoke to the business owners pointing out the deficiencies, and this week we’ll be writing those businesses official letters, pointing out that they are not in compliance and giving them a time period in which to get themselves in order.”

Businesses that fail to acknowledge the letters and to comply within the stipulated time period will face penalties.

The Minister explained that the persons visiting the entities are equipped with a checklist to ensure all the measures are being followed.

“We look at whether or not there are measures in place to limit the amount of people entering the business, sanitisation measures, and of course vaccination and asking for the vaccination card. So, all the measures, we’re looking at so when they visit, they have a checklist that they go through to see whether these businesses are complying.”

Dr. Anthony said the exercise last week was a success and it will continue this week. He is hopeful that it will help to improve adherence to the measures so that the country could combat the disease.

Similar exercises are being conducted in other parts of the country by members of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.