12 new COVID-19 cases detected

…Region 2 records 1st case

Guyana has recorded an alarming 12 new COVID-19 cases in one day, increasing the total number to 171.
According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud, another 12 samples turned up with positive results. However, the number of deaths is still at 12, after 32 tests were conducted.

This whopping rise in cases comes after the country’s cases remained constant since last Saturday.
The total number of tests conducted to date is 1995 and of that number, some 1822 were negative. There are 60 active cases in institutional isolation and 24 cases in quarantine. For now, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains free of any patients and there are 99 recoveries.
The CMO also reported that Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) reported its first case of the virus. It is one of eight administrative regions to record positive cases of the virus thus far. The patient is a 28-year-old miner of Charity, who previously worked in Aranka, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni, which had been declared to be one of the COVID-19 hotspots in Guyana.
As such, the CMO called on the mining community to follow the necessary guidelines.
“We continue to call on our mining community to recognise that you can only be safe if you always follow the guidelines of wearing a mask when you are in public, washing your hands as often as possible, and maintaining physical distancing,” he urged.
During this time, there are strong warnings against self-medication to treat symptoms related to the coronavirus disease. Instead, persons experiencing symptoms are asked to seek proper treatment at a medical facility, where their symptoms can be analysed and treated.
“Please remember that there is no cure so the temptation to self-medicate if you have symptoms of COVID-19 is not recommended. We ask that you seek medical attention by contacting the nearest health facility, so that they can bring services to you. The message is not only for the miners within the hinterland region, but for those who are at home on the coastland and have plans of returning. Please remember that you cannot provide for your family if you are sick,” Dr Persaud highlighted.

Repatriation
In recent weeks, Guyana has welcomed two repatriation flights for persons stuck overseas owing to the current pandemic. The CMO sought to highlight procedures which apply to any traveller arriving through the country’s international airports by commercial or private means.
A summary of the criteria for travel by air includes PCR testing for COVID-19, temperature checks, symptom screening and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“Persons returning by airlines will be screened at check-in and boarding by the airline. Temperature, symptoms checks, health assessment and other COVID-specific exit/entry screening will be applied in accordance with IATA [International Air Transport Association] guidance. Travellers should provide proof of negative PCR tests not more than 48 hours before travelling. If testing is done on same day, testing must be done by PCR method and travellers must arrive at least six hours before the departure of the flight,” he asserted.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the total number of cases is 7, 823, 289 cases with 431, 541 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the total number of positive cases is 3,781,538 with 201,848 deaths.