No spike in COVID cases but publicly-owned health sector on alert for new strain – Health Minister

Last Updated on Saturday, 31 May 2025, 20:07 by Writer

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Saturday said there was no increase in the number of COVID-19 cases but publicly-owned hospitals have been told to be on alert so that tests could be done to detect a new strain.

He said globally, a new COVID-19 strain, NB 1.8.1, was now circulating and causing some hospitalisations in Asia and the United States.

However, that strain was not found in Guyana but if necessary, sequencing would be done to better understand the virus.

“What we have done is to heighten our system in terms of the diagnosis to make sure that when people come, if they need to get a test, we can run that quite easily because people weren’t paying attention to COVID anymore,” Minister Anthony told Demerara Waves Online News.

His update on COVID-19 vigilance followed the circulation of an internal memorandum to nursing supervisors at the West Demerara Regional Hospital by the matron. She advised them that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and requires admission must be placed in a designated area. “As you are aware, there has been a recent rise in COVID-19 cases,” she said in her May 30, 2025 correspondence.

But the Health Minister categorically stated that there was no spike in the number of cases. “We haven’t seen an increase in numbers but looking at what is happening in other countries, I don’t want to be caught unawares, so ahead of time, we have put mechanisms in place so it’s not anything to be worried about,” he said.

He explained that that missive was part of internal preparations at the publicly-owned hospitals. “We just wanted to make sure that systems are in place that people know what to do if they have COVID patients,” he said.

Dr Anthony said the COVID response mechanism was pulled back from a somewhat “relaxed” mode to ensure they follow the tests and protocols. “It’s nothing to be alarmed about. It’s just that we want to make sure that we are not missing anything.”

He said the health sector was also on the lookout for the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and avian influenza or bird flu virus none of which has been detected so far in Guyana.