Another lockdown far from govt’s plans; VP talks about assisting vulnerable groups.

The government is not considering another lockdown says Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. The Vice President on Friday said that there is no evidence to suggest that a “curfew shift” would see a reduction in COVID-19 cases.

“I am not aware the government is considering another lock down, I spoke to that point earlier about the effectiveness of lockdowns so I am not aware there is any such consideration.”

The COVID-19 positive cases as well as deaths have spiralled. There are more than 15,000 confirmed cases, close to 2000 are active cases and to date some 349 deaths have been recorded.

The PPP government has not enforced any “lock down” of entertainment and other activities. The public health measures have been amended with the curfew for hours of movement being between 10:30PM and 4:00 am. The National Task Force has been working to ensure several sectors including businesses complied with these measures but monitoring and enforcement continue to be a uphill task.

And asked where there will be another round of cash grants to assist citizens during the pandemic. Jagdeo said the government is looking to assist people, “the big issue is administration, you know it took us a long time to go to each home, to get the grant given to people and we have alot of difficulties to do that.”

He said he had “no doubt” that persons were unable to get the grant and the pink slip given for the next round of the grant. “Now we are busy trying to wrap up the first exercise because we have still not completed the pink forms and assessing them, those people who are eligible, so to go back through such a laborious process, if we had an easier way of administering it, we maybe able to do it swiftly.”

The Vice President said the government is “definitely considering for vulnerable groups,” including older citizens and single parents.