1 fatality pushes COVID death toll to 459

…109 new cases recorded

One more person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died, thus taking the country’s death toll to 459.
The Health Ministry on Friday reported that a 59-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died while receiving care at a medical facility on Thursday.
On Thursday, the Ministry reported that an 85-year-old woman from Region One and an 81-year-old from Region Four died on Tuesday. Then, a 58-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 54-year-old woman from Region Four succumbed on Wednesday.
However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that Guyana has recorded 109 new cases. This figure has now taken the confirmed positive cases since the virus was first detected in March 2020 to 19,674.
There are 17 patients seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 99 in institutional isolation, 1473 in home isolation, and one in institutional quarantine. In total, 17,626 persons have recovered completely. Since the pandemic started, 183,048 individuals were tested – of which 9607 males and 10,067 females were positive.
An analysis showed five new cases were recorded in Region One (Barima-Waini); one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); five in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 33 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 21 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 34 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
In Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), cases are still at 379.
Hospitalisations from COVID-19 have varied, with an average of 18 per day in January; 23 per day in February; 38 per day in March; 66 per day in April and 87 per day in May. For this month, it remains at around 87.
“This is an average between our highest and lowest number, so it doesn’t represent the true numbers that we had per day. A good example is that we have 73 persons in our hospitals, and of those 73, we have 18 in the ICU. Again, it varies by day,” Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony underscored on Friday.
He has reiterated on many platforms that vaccination prevents people from developing the more severe form of the infection, eliminating hospitalisation and death from the equation. In fact, none of the fully-vaccinated persons in Guyana have succumbed because of the novel coronavirus disease.
In terms of vaccination, some 230,486 first doses have been administered, covering 47.3 per cent of the adult population. Out of this number, 104,605 persons, or 21.5 per cent, are completely inoculated.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately, or visit us at www.health.gov.gy.