Blog

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus.

The disease causes respiratory illness (similar to the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell.

Coronavirus disease spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or an object that has been contaminated, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Currently, the total number of cases in the world are 467,594; the total number of deaths in the world are 21,181; the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana are 5 (in Region 4), and the total number of deaths in Guyana – 1.

(Source: World Health Organization)

Why is the GCCI Concerned?

The GCCI is concerned about the preparations being made to reduce the spread of the virus once Local Transmission occurs in Guyana. In order to do this, we need to change our behavioral patterns and adopt the approach known as Social Distancing.

To this end, the GCCI welcomes the preparations by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and is ready, willing and able to assist the MoPH in its efforts to increase its resources to effectively fight COVID-19. The GCCI notes the press conference that was recently held by the MoPH. The Honourable Volda Lawrence mentioned that four (4) persons were put in mandatory isolation, and one (1) person is of national interest. She also mentioned that the Ministry is working within the Eight (8) Pillars Framework from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Moving ahead, the GCCI would like to see a convening of the first meeting of the COVID-19 National Taskforce which it was invited to participate in, so that the GCCI can help to relay information to its members as well as give feedback to the Taskforce’s coordinated response to the virus.

Whilst waiting for directions from the National Authorities, the GCCI encourages members of the business community and the general public to voluntarily practice social distancing. The GCCI also offers the following recommendations:

• Avoid large gatherings. There should be no congregation of people in groups of more than 15 persons.
• Employers should encourage employees to work from home/telecommute where possible.
• Businesses such as restaurants, bars and similar services should discontinue ‘dine-in’ services for customers and facilitate takeout, delivery and ‘drive-thru’ options.
• Minibus and speed boat owners should sanitize their vehicles and boats after every trip and should try to maintain a 3ft distance between each passenger if possible.
• Employers should disseminate guidelines on sanitation and hygiene to employees and ensure that employees have access to sanitizing materials.
• Businesses should not price gouge on materials needed for sanitizing and prevention of the spread of COVID-19.
• The public should remain calm and refrain from panic buying and hoarding of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitizing materials which limits availability for essential personnel who need the materials and are on the frontlines of fighting the spread of the infection.