Visa advisory for Chinese from SARS-hit provinces
Stabroek News
May 16, 2003
The Ministry of Health has issued advisories to its embassies and high commissions not to issue visas to Chinese from areas of China heavily affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) unless they first receive advice from the ministry.
Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday told Stabroek News that the ministry was not banning any persons from entering Guyana but “what we are saying is before you grant visas, ask us.”
And he revealed that eleven Chinese have so far been quarantined at the Georgetown Public Hospital after having recently visited affected areas in China.
“Eleven Chinese nationals have been quarantined at the hospital but not all of them are coming to Guyana for the first time. Six or seven of them are legal in Guyana but went home to visit relatives.”
Ramsammy said the first four persons, including two children, who were quarantined had been released since they had shown no signs of the disease. And in taking every precaution to prevent the disease from entering Guyana, Ramsammy said that the ministry had developed health declaration forms which are issued in-flight to all passengers travelling from affected areas. The passengers are asked to hand in the forms at the airport.
Additionally SARS information cards are also issued to passengers on the flights advising them to visit a physician should they develop any symptoms.
The card informs the physician what should be done should the patient show any signs of the disease.
