A startling jump in the COVID-19 death toll was reported on Friday, with an increase of 10 more fatalities in Guyana. 
This has contributed to 669 total deaths since the pandemic started – 42 of which were for the month of September thus far. The patients were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving care at medical institutions. Samples were taken at the time of admission which subsequently returned positive tests.
On September 7, a 67-year-old female from Region Two died. Later, on September 9, four persons from Region Four: a 56-year-old female, 85-year-old female, 58-year-old male and 79-year-old female were the reported deaths.
A 64-year-old female from Region Three and five persons from Region Four – a 50-year-old male, a 66-year-old female, a 64-year-old female, an 82-year-old male, a 60-year-old female and a 58-year-old male succumbed on September 10.
A significant increase of 218 more cases were detected within the course of one day – raising the total confirmed positives to 27,519.
There are 30 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 143 in institutional isolation, 2624 in home isolation and 17 in institutional quarantine. Since the pandemic started, 284,658 individuals were tested – of which 13,221 males and 14,298 females were positive. 
A regional breakdown of new cases showed two persons testing positive in Region One (Barima-Waini), 31 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 34 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 123 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 11 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), four in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), five in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Cases in did not increase for Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
With the spike in cases and deaths, 18 additional nurses have been reassigned to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, to assist with the management of patients. An additional nine doctors have joined the current compliment of 13 doctors per shift.
Works are ongoing to further expand the ICU facility to accommodate a surge. Recently, the ICU was expanded to cater for an additional 10 patients – a bed capacity of 38.
Health Minister, Dr frank Anthony has cautioned that any herbal concoction to treat COVID-19 is not scientifically proven.
In the latest COVID-19 briefing, the Health Minister advised that any herbal medicine, created with the purpose of treating the coronavirus, has not been created scientifically. As such, if Guyanese want to protect themselves from the deadly virus, they should get vaccinated and follow the national measures.
“Herbal medicine is what it is. It is not scientifically proven. It’s just people making a concoction and having faith that it will somehow protect them. That’s not science. I’ll urge people if they really want to get protected, they have to take the measures that we have been announcing, and of course get vaccinated.”
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy
Persons with comorbidities have been asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition. The preventative measures and guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to since this category of person is at a greater risk if they contract COVID-19. (G12)
