2 more COVID-19 deaths, 98 new cases recorded

The Health Ministry on Wednesday announced that two more persons have died from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
This now brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Guyana to 71.
According to a statement from the Ministry, two other persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have died.
The latest fatalities are a 70-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 66-year-old woman from Region One (Barima-Waini).
Only Tuesday night, the Ministry reported Guyana’s youngest fatality. The 25-year-old man was the country’s 69th COVID-19 death.
Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance for everyone who may have been exposed to the now-dead persons.
Guyana has recorded six COVID-19 deaths thus far this week. The week began with the death toll at 65.

New cases
Meanwhile, the updated COVID-19 dashboard for Wednesday shows that Guyana has recorded a whopping 98 new cases.
This now brings the country’s total number of coronavirus cases to 2535 – 1321 males and 1214 females.
Of the total number of cases, however, only 1002 are active. These include 14 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital and the remaining 988 in isolation, that is, 160 in institutional isolation and 828 in home isolation.
Meanwhile, there are 67 persons in institutional quarantine.
Additionally, some 1464 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease locally.
To date, Guyana has tested a total of 12,637 persons for the novel coronavirus.
A breakdown of the 98 new cases recorded on Wednesday shows that 57 were detected in Barima-Waini; three in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), nine cases in Demerara-Mahaica and 29 cases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
The other regional figures remain the same, with 28 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 14 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 34 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 277 cases in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 340 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 96 cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
Since taking office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive 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
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there have been 31,425,029 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 967,164 deaths, reported globally.
Meanwhile, the Region of the Americas has reported over 15.7 million coronavirus cases with more than 533,600 deaths.
WHO said on Wednesday that the Region continued to carry the highest burden of COVID-19 globally, accounting for over 38 per cent of all new cases reported in the past seven days, although the Region has reported a 22 per cent decrease in new deaths.
This marked decrease in the number of deaths in the Region, according to WHO, has been driven mainly by a decrease in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia in the past seven days, while the United States of America and Brazil continue to report the highest number of deaths, each reporting more than 5000 new deaths in the past week. (G8)