…169,000 persons vaccinated
Deaths from the novel coronavirus in May has raced to 46 in under three weeks, with the latest fatality announced as of Tuesday.
The Health Ministry informed that as of May 17, a 56-year-old man from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is the latest person to succumb to the virus. This amounts to 345 deaths since the pandemic started.
While April was seen as the deadliest month with 66 fatalities, May has been creeping rapidly with several people losing their lives after testing positive.
On Sunday, it was three persons: a 68-year-old man and 45-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 60-year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
Another 102 new cases were also recorded on Tuesday, propelling the total confirmed cases to 15,454. There are 14 patients seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit, 111 in institutional isolation, 1732 in home isolation and seven in institutional quarantine. In total, 13,252 persons recovered completely.
Since the pandemic started, 139,212 individuals were tested – of which 7718 males and 7736 females were positive. Guyana currently has 1857 active cases.
New cases
New cases spanned across eight administrative regions, with two in Region One (Barima-Waini), four in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 72 Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), four Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), six in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), eight in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and four in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
In Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), there are still 416 and 273 reported positives.
Recent statistics are that some 169,000 persons have since received their first dose of the COVID vaccine, representing 34.5 per cent of the adult population. From this figure, 34,317 have returned for their second dose.
Over the period of Guyana’s vaccination campaign, scores of outreaches have caused the vaccination uptake to grow. But in the event that these teams do not return, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony advised that persons should turn up to the nearest health centre when their second dose date approaches, rather than waiting.
“Don’t wait until we come back to your community. If there is a neighbouring site where they’re doing vaccinations, come to it so that you can get your second dose. We don’t want people to delay too long to get their second dose. Once that date is coming close, you can come a little bit before or a little bit after. That’s okay as well,” he guided.
Missing a dose completely is a situation which the Ministry is trying to mitigate. Dr Anthony reiterated that unless both doses are administered, a person would not be fully immunised. Immunisation offers signification protection from the virus, prevents people from dying or getting hospitalised.
The Minister stressed, “These vaccines work with the booster dose, which is the second dose. That is what will take their levels of immunity up so you get more antibodies in your system and the duration of that immune response would be more sustained. If you just get one dose, yes it would stimulate your immune system but that response is not going to be durable and it’s not going to be as effective as if you get both doses.”
On Monday, 67,537 Sputnik V vaccines arrived in the country and forms part of 235,463 jabs that have been delivered from a State purchase. Government had first purchased 200,000 doses and then secured another 600,000 for Guyana. The shots will continue to arrive in tranches, enabling immunisation for 400,000 persons.
COVAX is close to delivering on its promise of 100,800 doses; which adds to donations made my India, China and Barbados. (G12)
