13 pregnant women test positive for COVID-19, hospitalised

…7 more deaths, 161 new cases

COVID-19 infections among pregnant women are increasing locally, and as of Tuesday, 13 of these persons were hospitalised with complications.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony made this disclosure during the COVID-19 update, where he pointed out that they are being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Maternity Unit. Obstetric patients are now required to test for the virus.
“These 13 women, they all tested positive. That is a requirement now when you come in to determine your COVID status. We have to make special arrangements for their delivery…It is challenging with so many very sick people coming into the hospital and of course, the persons that need extra attention, we have to put them in the ICU,” Dr Anthony noted.
In recent time, he stated that coronavirus infections among pregnant women have been rising.
“We have been seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections among pregnant women. The day before, we only had seven but today (Tuesday), we have 13 women who are positive…As we had predicted, because of the Delta surge, we are going to see more cases. We are going to be able to diagnose more cases because more people are going to be affected.”
Some 129 of the 2430 active cases of the coronavirus in Guyana are hospitalised and of this amount 105 are being treated either at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, or at GPHC. In the Intensive Care Unit, there are 37 patients.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pregnant women can be vaccinated against COVID-19, in consultation with their healthcare provider.
“Based on what we know about the kinds of vaccines being used, there is no specific reason for concern. None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorised to date use live viruses, which are more likely to pose risks during pregnancy. Before getting vaccinated, pregnant women should discuss with their healthcare provider whether the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks,” the agency has published.

It went on to say that the benefits may be greatest for pregnant women at highest risk from COVID-19, such as frontline health workers, people living in areas of high transmission, and those with health conditions like hypertension and diabetes that add to their risk of severe disease.
“Pregnant women who are older, overweight, or have pre-existing medical conditions are at particular risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19.”

New deaths, cases
With seven new COVID-19 deaths as of Tuesday, Guyana is now facing a death toll of 654. For the first week in September, 29 persons have died.
All seven persons were from Region Four and include an 84-year-old female, a 73-year-old female, a 62-year-old male, a 31-year-old female and a 43-year-old female – all of whom died on Monday. On Tuesday, two females: an 87-year-old and an 88-year-old also succumbed.
Meanwhile, the daily dashboard showed an increase of 161 cases, resulting in a total 26,772 cases. Some 12,893 males contracted the virus as opposed to 13,879 females.
There are 37 persons in the specialised Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 136 in institutional isolation, 2249 in home isolation and eight in institutional quarantine. The number of recoveries now stands at 23,696.
Regionally, there was one new case in Region One (Barima-Waini), 19 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 56 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 144 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 20 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), six in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), four in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), three in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and seven in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
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
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.

Banking institutions
The Guyana Association of Bankers on Tuesday said that the financial institutions will soon be complying with the new COVID-19 measure, which stipulates that all persons must show proof of vaccination to gain entry into all public buildings along with compliance to other measures such as using face masks and sanitisation. Unvaccinated persons will be required to make appointments and produce a negative molecular biological PCR test result obtained as recent as seven days before the appointment.
The requirement previously applied to only Government buildings or agencies. However, the updated protocol extended public buildings to refer to any building to which the public has lawful access including both publicly and privately-owned buildings such as institutions of learning.
Several financial institutions have already issued notices to their customers informing of the new requirements.
The Emergency Measures (No 22) run until September 30, 2021, and could be extended further. The negative PCR test requirement, which can only be obtained from laboratories approved by the Health Ministry, also applies to unvaccinated workers of any such public building.