COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana

On 11 March 2020, the first case of coronavirus was recorded in Guyana from a 52-year-old woman suffering from underlying health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.[29] The woman died at the Georgetown Public Hospital.[3]

On 18 March 2020, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority closed the country's airports to incoming international passenger flights for 14 days.[30] All schools were closed. [31]

On 19 March 2020, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) closed Guyanese airspace to all international arrivals. [32]

On 23 March 2020, the Courts of Guyana announced limited or suspended operations. [33]

On 25 March 2020, Karen Gordon-Boyle, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, announced that only people exhibiting signs of COVID-19 infection or who have traveled abroad will be tested. The Pan American Health Organization had supplied Guyana with 700 testing kits and 400 screening kits. [1]

On 31 March 2020, Ubraj Narine, the Mayor of Georgetown, said that he would not be implementing lockdowns or curfews in contrast to neighboring cities. [34]

On 1 April 2020, a second death was announced. The victim is a 38-year-old former Emergency Medical Technician. The total number of cases is 12: 10 cases in Region 4, 1 in Region 3 and 1 in Region 6. 52 people have been tested thus far. [35]

On 2 April 2020, President David Granger announced the closure of bars, restaurants and other places of entertainment between 18:00 and 06:00. [36]

On 3 April 2020, Guyana had reported 19 cases and 4 deaths, giving the country the world's highest COVID-19 case fatality rate at 21.05%.[37]
The Minister of Health announced that all residents of Guyana will be restricted to their homes/yards. A national curfew will come into effect from 6 PM until 6 AM. The curfew had already been declared on 30 March in Region 10.[38] A limited number of essential services will be operating daily with reduced hours of service.[39]
The Civil Defence Commission has started a relief program consisting of food and cleaning essentials to the most vulnerable communities. [40]

On 6 April 2020, Guyana had reported 29 cases.[41]

On 8 April 2020, it was announced that Colonel John Lewis, who had died on 7 April, had contracted COVID-19. He had not been tested until after he died. His wife had died from pneumonia 12 days earlier. [42]
All post offices will be closed from Thursday onward. Arrangements are being made for pensioners to collect pensions. [43]

On 9 April 2020, the European Union announced a grant of €8M (US$8.6M), which will be implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency, for the fight against the Corona virus. Guyana is one of the 24 members of the CARPHA. [44]
A 6-year-old girl was recently rushed into the Linden Hospital Complex. Given the seriousness of the illness, she was scheduled to transferred to Georgetown, however she died within 90 minutes. She will be tested for COVID-19 because she had a fever and trouble breathing. [45] The result of the test was negative. [46]
Volda Lawrence, Public Health Minister, has announced that there had been no new cases on 9 April and that a total of 152 people had been tested. [47]

On 11 April 2020, the Civil Defence Commission announced that there are currently four quarantine facilities with a total capacity of 254. [48]

On 12 April 2020, the Ministry of Health has allowed private hospitals to test for COVID-19. [49]
At least 34 Guyanese have died of COVID-19 in New York City up to now according the Consulate General of Guyana in New York. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said that 10,000 to 12,000 people are stranded in New York alone, but that currently no repatriation flights will take place. [50] 200 American citizens were repatriated on 14 April by Eastern Airlines. [51]
Guyana is to receive 30,000 masks and ventilators from China. [52]

On 15 April 2020, the Ministry of Health announced that of the infected cases, 14 are from the East Coast of Demerara, five from the East Bank of Demerara and 17 within central Georgetown which means that Region 4 has 86% of all the cases. [53]

On 18 April 2020, the indigenous villages are concerned about food shortages due to significant increase of the cost of freight caused by the pandemic. Up to now the CDC had not delivered any aid packages to the indigenous villages. [54]
It was announced that the seventh patient died. [55]. Guyana is to receive 7,000 testing kits from the PAHO. [56]

On 21 April 2020, Marvin Pearce, a Guyanese political activist and supporter of APNU+AFC, died on Monday in the United States from COVID-19 at the age of 44.[57]
Suriname and Guyana have agreed to allow legitimate trade over the Courantyne River. The river which forms the border between the countries had been closed, which had resulted in food and fuel shortage in the Amerindian villages, Orealla and Siparuta.[58] The border will remain closed for people.[59]

On 23 April 2020, Guyana will dispatch mobile COVID-19 testing units across the country, because there is a suspicion that there are more cases due to the limited amount of testing. Guyana now has 9,000 test kits. [60]

On 24 April 2020, Moses Nagamootoo, Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force, said that foreign aid had been halted by the irregularities surrounding the 2020 Guyanese general election. Guyana was excluded by the World Bank from the first batch of aid packages. The lack of a budget for 2020 make matters worse.[61]

On 27 April 2020, the Public Health Ministry announced that 464 tests had been performed an increase of a mere nine tests compared to the day before.[62]

On 30 April 2020, ExxonMobil and its partners have donated GY$60 million (~US$290,000) for the fight against COVID-19. $40 million will go to the CDC, the Salvation Army and Rotary Guyana will receive $10 million each.[63]
The ninth death to COVID-19 was a 67-year-old man who died at approximately 20:20 on 29 April.[64]

On 6 May 2020, it was disclosed that the tenth death to COVID-19 was tested after passing away. The number of tests is improving, and up to now 714 persons have been tested.[65] The victim was a 64-year-old man in the Palms Geriatric Home. 12 people of the staff and 24 other bedridden persons have been quarantined.[66]
Ten Guyanese have been arrested for trying to cross into Brazil illegally and have been placed in quarantine. The out of control situation in Brazil with regards to COVID-19 does not deter crossings.[67]

On 10 May 2020, another resident of Palms Geriatric Home tested positive.[68]

On 11 May 2020, it was reported that an 11-year-old girl, who was one of the first cases, still tests positive after 56 days.[69]

On 12 May 2020, the virus is now present in seven regions. Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is the newest region. The other regions are 1 (Barima-Waini), 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 4 (Demerara-Mahaica), 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).[70]
A man who was quarantined with COVID-19 in Lethem escaped and was caught yesterday in Brazil raising concerns about the legal crossings and his contacts during his escape. [71]

On 20 May 2020, random testing was performed among the Presidential Guard resulted in eight members testing positive.[72]