Region Six residents urged to take COVID-19 seriously

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, MP, has urged residents of the East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) to treat COVID-19 seriously, as Government aims to achieve herd immunity.

The Minister made this call, on Sunday, during the distribution of the flood relief grants to farmers, who were severely affected by the unprecedented nationwide flooding.

He told the gathering that the misinformation being peddled by the opposition as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be ignored. The Local Government Minister assured residents that the PPP/C Government is committed to ensuring the population is protected against the deadly disease.

“There are many members of parliament who are going into villages and telling people not to get vaccinated but our country cannot develop with such levels of democracy… people are dying while thousands are in hospitals.”

Minister Dharamlall reminded the residents that the fight against Covid needs to be a collaborative effort between Government and the people. Adherance to the Covid measures outlined by the Ministry of Health is also important.

“Please continue to use your mask, to sanitise regularly and practice social distance, but the most potent defence against Covid is the vaccination and the first vaccine is the best vaccine. It doesn’t matter the brand, just get vaccinated. And so far in this country, no one who has been vaccinated has died as a result of Covid. No one who was vaccinated, end up on life support as a result of Covid,” the Minister said.

Minister Dharmall added that, “Covid doesn’t spare anyone. Covid does not spare anyone based on their race, class, or even based on their economic status so please get vaccinated.”

He said the Government will soon receive vaccines for children between the ages of 12 to 17 to be inoculated, so that they can return to school in September.

Meanwhile, during his COVID-19 update on Monday, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP, said the response from the region has been relatively good, however, it can be better with the support of residents.

Close to 47,900 persons in the region have received the first dose of a Covid vaccine, which is about 63.6 per cent of the population there, while only 23,628 persons returned for their second dose. This accounts for 31.4 per cent of the region’s population, which Dr. Anthony pointed out to be slightly above the national average.

“Looking at what remains to be done for second dose, we already need about 51,674 persons in the region to get vaccinated. We are still a long way from achieving herd immunity in Region Six and therefore, I would like to urge everyone to make sure you come and get the vaccine.”

The Region’s adult population stands close to 75,000.