Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon has condemned the recent move by the Health Ministry to only provide COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to persons who have been hospitalised, and those who have been in environments susceptible to infection. According to Harmon, via a recent statement, the move is geared at hiding incompetence.
However, Minister Anthony has been quoted by several sections of the media saying that persons have not been following the window period for testing, and have been “flocking” testing sites. Guyana Standard understands that the ongoing flu season has also caused some concerns, with many worried citizens rushing to get tested. Offering PCR tests to only those who are hospitalised and reside in at-risk areas was geared at eliminating these large gatherings. Aside from the PCR test, there is also the rapid antigen tests that citizens can take.
But Harmon opined that the move reduces the number of tests daily, thereby blurring the true situation of the pandemic. It also, he said, forces persons away from public facilities to private centers where they will have to pay to be tested.
The Opposition Leader said, too, that upon learning that the Omicron variant was in Brazil and the Caribbean, no efforts were made to prevent its entry into Guyana. He lamented that the Brazil to Guyana crossing remains open with “little to no” COVID-19 measures in place.
It was Harmon’s APNU+AFC that was in government when Guyana confirmed it first COVID-19 infection and death back in March 2020.
Harmon alleged also that the current government made no effort to reduce or stop flights from countries that were recording high numbers of positive cases due to the Omicron variant.
“The COVID-19 numbers are drastically out of control and further exposes the PPP’s incompetence. Their only strategy now is to attempt to show a reduction in the numbers by testing less and hiding the real numbers from the public. This is not how a Government manages a health crisis,” he said.
Harmon added, “At this juncture the Government should be boosting its capacity to do more daily testing so that it can be aware of the COVID-19 situation and make informed decisions to positively impact the health and safety of the people of Guyana. Instead, what we are made to endure is a Government that is shying away from its responsibility and placing more and more of our citizens at risk.”
Prior to being voted out of office, the APNU+AFC conducted less than 100 tests per day. Hundreds of tests are now being conducted daily, according to the Ministry’s daily surveillance reports.
