2 more die from COVID-19, 47 new cases recorded in 24 hours

The Health Ministry on Sunday announced that two more persons have died from the novel coronavirus in Guyana. This now takes the COVID-19 death toll in the country up to 78.
In a statement, the Ministry said: “as of 10:00h on September 27, 2020, two other persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.”
The latest victims are two women, a 55-year-old and a 45-year-old of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). They both died while receiving care at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Officials of the Ministry have since contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the two dead persons.
Only Saturday, Guyana recorded another two COVID-19 deaths. They were a 36-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who died while receiving care at a medical facility, and the other is a 45-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
The country would have recorded 13 deaths from the novel coronavirus over the past week. The week began with the COVID death toll at 65.
Meanwhile, the updated COVID-19 dashboard for Sunday shows that 47 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, which now brings the country’s total number of coronavirus cases up to 2772 – 1466 males and 1306 females.
Of the total number of cases, however, some 1132 are active. This includes 12 persons in the COVID-19 ICU and the remaining 1120 in isolation, that is, 230 in institutional isolation and the other 890 in home isolation.
In addition, 75 persons remain in institutional quarantine. The Ministry also stated that 1564 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease.
To date, Guyana has tested a total of 13,589 persons for the novel coronavirus.
A breakdown of the 47 new cases recorded on Sunday shows that one case was detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), four in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 32 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica Region, six in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and two cases in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The other regional figures remain the same, with 32 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 15 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 65 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 97 cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.
Nevertheless, the Public 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 the six feet 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 32,730,945 confirmed COVID-19 cases including 991,224 deaths reported globally.
Meanwhile, the region of the Americas has reported over 16.2 million coronavirus cases with more than 546,800 deaths.