The Minister of Overseas, Annick Girardin, expressed Wednesday in Cayenne, reservations about a "reconfiguration" of Guyana, at the end of his visit to this French overseas territory which is experiencing a marked acceleration of the epidemic from Covid-19. The "reconfinement" of Guyana "is the measure which would allow us to curb the progression of the virus most strongly provided that the population accepts it and implements it, which is not certain", declared Mrs. Giradin in front of the press.
"A measure fraught with meaning"
"It is also a measure fraught with meaning, with a social cost which should not be underestimated", underlined Annick Girardin, following the announcement made on Sunday by Matignon of a "hypothetical reconfinement", strongly disapproved by the majority of local elected representatives and from the economic and social world. "If the signs of an acceleration of the virus persist, the hypothesis of a reconfiguration will have to be re-examined", however warned the minister, for whom "there is still time to avoid this scenario".
According to the minister, Guyana is experiencing a "marked acceleration of the circulation of the virus" "mainly" in Kourou, Cayenne Rémire-Montjoly and Matoury. The "peak of the epidemic" in this territory of 300,000 inhabitants under a state of health emergency until October is announced for "mid-July" confirmed Annick Girardin.
A call to caregivers and hospitals in mainland France
The regional health agency (ARS) listed Wednesday 2,827 confirmed cases, 103 hospitalizations, 15 patients in intensive care and 9 deaths. In the past 24 hours, one additional death and 234 new cases (out of 772 tests) have been recorded. The first two medical evacuations in Guadeloupe were also carried out.
Faced with exhaustion and the lack of energy, Annick Girardin launched a "solemn appeal to carers and hospitals" in France. "We need very many volunteers, over the long term" she pressed.
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To curb the epidemic, the minister announced the sending of human and material reinforcements, including a field hospital in Cayenne for non-Covid cases. She also called on the Guyanese to strongly respect barrier gestures and the wearing of masks, mentioned the need for reinforcements in "police forces" and invited the prefect to "reinforce" as of Thursday, the curfews already in force.
During her trip, Annick Girardin was arrested on Wednesday by members of a "common front" made up of the main militant and political forces behind the great social movement 2017, which had shaken the territory in March 2017 before an agreement with the government. This "common front" calls for additional measures, in particular a screening of the whole population and the installation of a field hospital for Covid + cases as close as possible to the Brazilian border, in Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock .