2 more COVID-19 deaths, 43 new cases reported

The Health Ministry on Thursday announced that two more persons who tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have died, bringing the death toll to 62.
According to the Ministry, the first death on Thursday was that of an 83-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died some time before 15:00h while receiving care at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The second fatality was a 52-year-old man, also of Region Four, who died while in the COVID-19 ICU some time before 16:30h on Thursday. A test sample was collected from the man at the time of admission and the results subsequently came back positive for coronavirus.
Officials of the Health Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-dead persons.
This comes on the heels of the Ministry also reporting two new COVID deaths on Wednesday. The victims were two women from Region One (Barima-Waini).
Guyana has recorded six deaths from COVID-19 thus far this week. The week began with the COVID-19 death toll at 56.
Meanwhile, the updated COVID-19 dashboard for Thursday shows that Guyana has recorded 43 new cases.
This now brings the country’s total number of coronavirus cases to 2027 – 998 males and 1029 females.
Of the total number of cases, however, only 665 are active. These include 16 persons in the COVID-19 ICU and the remaining 649 in isolation, that is, 65 in institutional isolation and other 584 in home isolation.
Meanwhile, there are currently 81 persons in institutional quarantine.
Additionally, some 1302 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease.
To date, Guyana has tested a total of 11,511 persons for the novel coronavirus.
A breakdown of the 43 new cases recorded on Thursday shows that seven were detected in the Barima-Waini Region, one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); three in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 25 in Demerara-Mahaica and seven in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The other regional figures remain the same, with 12 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 31 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 34 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); 327 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 87 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
Since taking office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positives cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.
The Health Ministry continues to urge all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures (No 9) which are in effect until September 30, 2020. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of face masks when leaving home, the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Persons displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or in need of any additional information are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately, or visit www.health.gov.gy.