1 new case; 10 patients now in COVID-19 ICU

ꟷ active cases now at 148

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in Guyana, the Public Health Ministry reported another new case on Sunday.
This now brings the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 273, according to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard. A total of 27 tests were conducted since Saturday’s update.
Meanwhile, the number of active cases is now at 148 – 138 in institutional isolation and 10 in the dedicated COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Compared to Saturday’s figures, there are now seven new coronavirus patients in the ICU.
Guyana Times understands that the new case is from Region One (Barima-Waini). On Saturday, the Region had recorded three new cases. This from a total of 16 new cases recorded on that day.
According to Sunday’s updated dashboard, there are still 16 persons in institutional quarantine while the country’s COVID-19 death toll has also increased to 15 following the death of a 25-year-old teacher.
Donna Ambrose Greaves, a mother of one, died in the COVID-19 ICU located at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Saturday night. She was a teacher attached to Arapaima Nursery School in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Essequibo)
The Region had recorded two more positive cases on Saturday.
To date, 2806 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus of which 2533 are negative.
As local health authorities continue to grapple with flattening the curve of the coronavirus pandemic, Region Four remains the epicentre of the outbreak in Guyana.
However, there has been a significant rise in COVID-19 cases in the hinterland regions of Barima-Waini and Cuyuni-Mazaruni – the latter recording its first death from the virus just days ago. The victim was 34-year-old Abdool Khan of Bartica, who succumbed in the designated ICU located at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).
To this end, medical teams were deployed to the hard-hit communities in these regions.
According to a report from the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Saturday, the mandatory lockdown which has been imposed at Aranka in Region Seven and Moruca in Region One allowed the health teams to conduct mass screening and testing of individuals living and working in these areas.
Agencies collaborating with the Public Health Ministry to ensure this process is conducted effectively include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Regional Democratic Councils and Health Emergency Committees of Regions One and Seven among others.
While under lockdown, no one will be allowed in or out of these areas for one month, commencing July 6 to August 3, 2020.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the region of the Americas has recorded over 5.6 million cases with more than 262,000 deaths.
Globally, the number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 11 million while the deaths are currently pegged at over 528,000.