Lockdown not necessary for Siparuta – Health Minister

Despite an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in the small indigenous community of Siparuta in Region Six, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony says a lockdown is not necessary at this time.

But the Village Council has restricted movement in the community and is not allowing anyone to leave or enter.

Dr Anthony, in his daily COVID-19 update Tuesday, noted that a medical team will remain in Siparuta until the situation is under control.

“They have been doing swabbing there in the community and we will keep a medical presence there.

“There have been discussions within the people of the Village Council about a possible lockdown and at this point, we don’t think that is necessary,” Dr Anthony noted.

Instead, the Ministry has advised that positive patients adhere to the COVID-19 measures while they recover in home isolation.

Siparuta has recorded one COVID-19 death; the patient was an 89-year-old man who died at the Skeldon Hospital on November 21.

The elderly man suffered a stroke after he was swabbed for the virus in the village, but he died before the results came back positive.

Meanwhile, the Village’s Toshao, Carl Penux had told the News Room that depending on the number of positive cases, the village council will decide on a lockdown.

Orealla, located some seven miles from Siparuta, and governed by the same Toshao, has recorded no positive cases.