10 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Guyana

…after 2 days of no testing

Guyana recorded 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after two days of not conducting any tests.
The figure was announced by caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence in her COVID-19 update on Monday. Based on the numbers released, the number of confirmed cases now stands at 92.
Meanwhile, the number of persons who have so far recovered has increased to 27 and some 639 persons have been tested. According to the Public Health Ministry, of the number of persons tested, 547 were negative. There are currently three persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), seven in institutional quarantine and 56 in isolation.
“As I reported on Friday, May 1st, 2020, which marked day 50 since our first index case was reported, the number of confirmed cases continues to climb, and in less than a month, we have had a 110 per cent increase. Our health-care workers continue to work selflessly in order to protect us all, but you continue to behave very selfishly, with total disregard for your own safety and for your own life. With regard to the social distancing guidelines, you have interpreted them to suit your own agenda. Not only are you continuing to congregate in large numbers, but you are also there way past the curfew time and with no face mask for your protection and those around you,” Lawrence said.
She added that it was extremely “unfair” to those who were following the guidelines to be placed at unnecessary risk. “From the inception, you were all told that we can stop COVID-19 from spreading; by simply staying home and following all the precautionary guidelines; that advice is still in effect. You know all these guidelines, so please adhere to them so that we can get on with our lives and our livelihood,” she added.
While countries across the globe have been trying to locate and test suspected cases of COVID-19, Guyana’s public health authorities failed to conduct any tests for two days. Based on the statistics released by the Public Health Ministry on Sunday, most figures on its dashboard had been repeated for the previous two days.
In recent times, concerns have been raised that more persons might be carrying the virus unknowingly, since the virus can manifest asymptomatically. But the Ministry has contended that only individuals with signs and symptoms of the disease or those who had been in contact with a positive case were viable for testing. There are other secondary factors which are deliberated upon also.
Some persons have even complained of experiencing symptoms associated with the virus but failing to receive medical treatment until days later.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 that had not been previously identified in humans. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.
The Public Health Ministry is calling on all citizens to heed the health advisories and observe the correct hygiene measures and precautions. Citizens are also asked to always practise social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If anyone is experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, they are asked to call the hotline on 227-4986 ext 215 or 624-3067, and a team would be sent to their location. The Regional hotline numbers are Region One (Barima-Waini) – 674-8047; Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) – 682-4210; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – 254-1261 and 254-0313; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – 231-1166, 226-7480, 624-6674 and 624-3067; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – 624-9000, 624-2000 and 640-3000; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – 682-3055 and 668-4449; Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) – 675-9131, 654-0405 and 697-0656; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) – 608-7517; Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Essequibo) – 772-2206; and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – 444-3007, 444-6127, and 444-6137.