PAHO rep. urges Gov’t to revert to 6pm-6am curfew

With COVID-19 cases in Guyana surpassing 1,000, country representative of the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Dr William Adu-Krow is urging the Government to revert to the 12-hour curfew.

“I would ask of the Government if you can have 6pm to 6am rather than 9pm to 5am because [when the curfew] starts at 9pm, what it does is, it gives people enough time to hang around with friends and drink up to 8:30pm and then go home.

“If it is 6pm, then from office, you go home,” Dr. Adu-Krow told the News Room during an interview Wednesday.

The former APNU+AFC Government on July 16 moved the curfew from 6pm to 5am to 8pm to 5pm and allowed outdoor dining.

On August 15, the PPP Government shifted it to 9pm and also allowed more businesses to resume operation. At that time, there were 674 recorded COVID-19 cases which have since increased to 1,060.

Several complaints have been made to the Police about persons spending their time after work at bars and on the seawalls.

Dr Adu-Krow noted that he can only make recommendations in his capacity but the final decision lies with the Government of the day.

On Tuesday, Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine expressed similar sentiments and noted that the relaxation of the curfew makes it difficult for the council to monitor persons.

The current curfew period comes to an end on Monday, August 31.