2 more deaths, 75 new COVID-19 cases recorded

Two more persons died of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday brining the deaths recorded to 64.
The Health Ministry reported that the latest fatalities are a 71 -year-old male from Region One (Barima-Waini) who died while receiving care at a medical facility. The other is a 63-year-old man of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica. Meanwhile, the total number of cases COVID-19 reported in Guyana now stands at 2102, after 75 new cases were reported by the Health Ministry on Friday.
The daily dashboard provided showed that the number of persons in the Intensive Care Unit was listed at 16. A total of 1038 males and 1064 females have contracted the virus in Guyana.
There are 644 individuals on home isolation – an increase of 60. There are 66 persons are in institutional isolation and 86 in institutional quarantine. From the confirmed cases, 1314 persons have recovered – an increase of 12.
The Ministry’s regional breakdown showed that four new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), nine in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 41 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), nine in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 11 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) saw no increases, with positives remaining at 31 and 34 respectively.
For four consecutive days this week, Guyana recorded two deaths from the novel coronavirus.
The first fatality was an 83-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). This was followed by a 52-year-old man from the same region, who died at about 16:30h. After being admitted to the facility, a test was conducted but the positive result returned after he succumbed.
On Wednesday, two women from Region One (Barima-Waini) were the reported fatalities. They were an 80-year-old woman and a 63-year-old woman, who was later identified as Phyllis Chacon. Previously on Tuesday, a 75-year-old male from Region Four and an 86-year-old woman from Region One died after while receiving medical care at the facility.
As it relates to the rapid increase in COVID-19 deaths, an official from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation had explained that this could be because of comorbidity – where the patient would have an underlying condition.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry continues to encourage persons to take all necessary precautions to avoid contracting the virus. Earlier this week, the population was reminded of the need for correct and consistent use of face masks when leaving their homes; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 hotline 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.