11 American Airlines to resume services in Guyana on Monday F NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
ollowing the suspension of its services back in March, after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) hit, American Airlines has made a decision to restart operations in Guyana, effective from Monday. Operations would resume with six flights per week to Miami, and this would be followed by non-stop flights to New York, which would be rolled out by December. On October 12, Guyana’s two main ports of entry – the Eugene F Correia International and the Cheddi Jagan International airports - were reopened to commercial flights. An important aspect of allowing incoming passengers is a negative PCR test, which must be proven by persons entering the country. This
type of test is separated into two categories and can be done either within 72 hours or seven days of the flight. In regard to the seven-day window, travellers would be asked to pay for a second test at the airport. If someone tests positive during their second PCR test, they would be picked up by the Health Ministry’s specialised COVID-19 team. A number of commer-
cial carriers have already reintroduced flights to and from Guyana since the Government moved to reopen the ports. Eastern Airlines has introduced four flights weekly from Miami and New York; COPA Airlines has started three flights weekly from Panama, while American Airlines has announced six flights weekly from Miami. Beginning November 1,
Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) will be flying between the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada. CAL said flights would be operated each Monday and Friday, with connections available from Trinidad and Barbados. CAL has already reintroduced its commercial service between Guyana and New York, which took effect on October 19 following reopening of the country’s international ports last month. A few days ago, JetBlue announced December 11 as the launch date for its commercial flight between New York and Guyana. The airline announced that flights would initially be operated up to four times weekly, with seats available for purchase
starting on October 27. JetBlue had originally announced the new route between New York City and Georgetown in September 2019, but temporarily paused the sale of seats and adjusted the launch schedule in response to changes in global travel demand. Meanwhile, the Guyana Government is also engaging Virgin Atlantic and InterCaribbean Airways on adding Guyana to its list of destinations. Local authorities had closed the country’s borders – including the two main international airports – since March 2020, after the first imported case of COVID-19 was detected. From then to August, the CJIA recorded losses of over one billion dollars due to the pandemic. Figures representing
aircraft seats occupied between January and July 2020, when compared with the same period in 2019, revealed that the number of available aircraft seats was 229,126, or 132 per cent less than the 532,602 available in 2019. This year, international aircraft landing has also declined by 137 per cent, from 2,380 to 1,005. Regarding the movement of cargo, while the airport is closed to passenger movements, cargo operations continued, albeit in a limited manner. For cargo imports, there was a 19 per cent reduction: from 3,101,936 kilograms to 2,501,345 kilograms. Meanwhile, cargo exports have declined by 22 per cent: from 1,652,028 kilograms to 1,294,391 kilograms. (G12)
Coastal residents cautioned as high tides persist until Nov 3
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esidents along Guyana’s coastal stretch are asked to remain alert as the period of high tides is in effect, and will continue until November 4. The Hydrometeorological Office has advised that above-normal high tides would persist, and may result in flooding. As a result, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is also advising residents of riverine, low-lying and floodprone areas to take all necessary precautions, and to contact the National Emergency Monitoring System should they be affected. In the event of their being flooded, persons are asked
to stay out of the water and keep food items safe. Waterborne diseases can be contracted through contact with these waters. Direct contact with floodwaters can expose persons to several germs that can lead to any of these diseases. Guardians are also asked to keep children especially out of the water, as they are most at risk of contracting diseases; and everyone avoid swimming in canals and trenches. Protective gear should be used, and feet should be washed regularly after persons exit the waters. If necessary, Vaseline or oil can be applied to form a barrier to protect from the dirty water. Additionally, water is a breeding ground for mosqui-
Residents are asked to be on the lookout for flooding during this high tide
toes which spread Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus. Fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly with clean water to prevent contamination.
To protect against an electric shock, turn off the main electrical switch, unplug all appliances, and move them to safe areas in the home. If it is suspected that electri-
cal wiring has been damaged in a home, turn off the main switch and have it checked by a qualified electrician before turning on the power again.
In October last year, the high tides were unforgiving to communities on the West Coast of Demerara, including Blankenburg, Hague, Den Amstel, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, and Oceanview Uitvlugt. This is the second major inundation to hit those communities in just over one year. In March last year, breaches in the sea defence resulted in persons being relocated to shelters after their homes were severely flooded. The CDC can be contacted around-the-clock at the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 623-1700, 600-7500, or 226-1114, or by leaving a message on its social media page.
