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Oct 10, 2020 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
Kaieteur News – There were four COVID-19 deaths yesterday, including a 28 year-old man. We will have to wait and see whether the explanation was that he had underlying conditions.
In the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak here, the media used to follow-up on deaths. They somehow used to manage to obtain the names of those dying and speak to their relatives. This allowed for the public to obtain a general idea as to how the disease was being spread.
For weeks now, this reporting has disappeared. More than 80 persons have died over the past two months. Yet, the reporters have not provided the sort of reports which they were able to do in the past.
It may be that the authorities have tightened up on the confidentiality of the names of the dead. However, we live in a small society and word spreads fast.
It should not be difficult for the media to trace the identities of those who died. The families rather than fearing a breach of privacy should view media enquiries as contributing to a better understanding of the spread of the virus. Perhaps, the best tribute that they can pay to their relatives who died from COVID-19 complications is to make the public more enlightened about this disease by giving information about how their loved ones may have contracted the disease, when they sought treatment and whether they had underlying conditions.
A great many elderly persons are dying at present. And of the questions which are being asked is how did these persons contract the virus? Was it a case where younger family members brought it into the home? Was it believed to be spread through contact with others? Was it spread outside or inside of the home? Was institutional spread involved?
There are still thousands of persons out there who are refusing to take precautions. Many of them believe that COVID-19 is not in Guyana and that deaths are being attributed to the virus which is being caused by other factors? Some people believe that even if they contract it, they will beat it off. They are oblivious that if they contract it they can transmit it easily to husbands, wives, children, parents and grandparents.
The media has an important role to play in helping to fight this disease. And it is disappointing that the relatives of those who died from the virus are not coming forward to warn Guyanese that this virus is real and that it is dangerous.
A vaccine is going to come. But that will take another five months. At the rate at which the deaths are taking place, Guyana cannot afford to wait five months. The virus has to be slowed down. This means that the public must have more information about the local spread, including the areas where infections are taking place.
There is no stigma attached to having the coronavirus. And therefore infected persons need not feel ashamed. This is a virus that is highly contagious and can therefore spread very quickly throughout a community. If someone knows that there is a case in his or her community, that person is likely to take more precautions. But if the person does not know, then that person may not take the necessary precautions and may become infected.
This is one of the main reasons why it is important for the public to be told not just about the number of recoveries but also about the number of active cases in each Region and for these cases just where are the COVID-19 hotspots so that mass testing can be accelerated in those areas.
Keeping the location of infections secret, actually works against reducing the spread. No one is asking for the specific name and address of infected persons but only the dispersion by village or town or community, of the active cases.
A 28-year-old died yesterday from the coronavirus. Did that person have underlying conditions? The lack of information creates more uncertainty and distrust. And that cannot be helpful in stemming the spread of the virus.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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