Health Minister – COVID-19 tests so far in 2022 almost exceed all tests done in 2020

Health Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, has reaffirmed that the government is in full
control of the increased demand for testing as COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the
country.
On Wednesday the minister noted that the surge is not unique to Guyana, as Omicron has
presented itself as a highly transmissible variant and has been confirmed in over 55 countries
worldwide. He stressed that the ministry as a result, has extended its testing capacity by 89.5 per
cent in comparison to what was available in 2020.
He disclosed that official reports from the ministry revealed that in 2020, the health sector
conducted a total of 38,548 tests. However, from January 1 to January 12, 2022, a whopping 30,
539 tests were done. Dr. Anthony said that this highlights that 79 per cent of almost all tests
conducted in the year 2020 have been done in the first two weeks of 2022. He pointed out that
approximately 2,000 tests are also being conducted daily.
The health minister said that though the ministry has already extended its capacity to
accommodate the rise in need for COVID-19 testing, he revealed that persons who do not need
to be tested are putting unnecessary pressure on the system. “Our staff, they’ve been working
and managing the volumes of tests that we are doing, but at the same time we believe that we
need to look at those persons who really require the tests, and not for some individual to
determine this is the test that they need and they come and ask for that test,” Dr. Anthony said.
The minister explained that this information, coupled with recommendations and guidelines
outlined by international health agencies, is what the minister says has guided the
implementation of new measures for testing. “Based on the science, and based on guidelines that
other more stringent authorities have put out, such as the CDC in the United States, the Canadian
health authorities, the UK public health authorities, we have reviewed all these guidelines…these
are the conditions many countries are setting now,” he revealed. Dr. Anthony continued, “I
suspect for the next couple of weeks we will still continue to have a high volume of tests and we
are capable of handling it, but we want the tests to be for those who really need them.”
The minister sought to appeal to citizens to utilise the other testing facilities that are available
around Georgetown and its surrounding areas, as opposed to crowding one facility. “While some
people have focused on, let’s say the Umana Yana, where they have gone to get tested because
it’s probably very central, in Georgetown, there are a number of other testing sites…we have, in
Georgetown and its environs…in eight of those, we are offering testing,” he added.