…120 new cases recorded in 24h, 77 detected in Region 4
With two more COVID-19 fatalities, Guyana’s death toll has risen yet again to 212.
The Health Ministry on Thursday announced the deaths of two males – both aged 66, from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). They died on Thursday while seeking medical attention at a designated facility.
The two deaths came in quick succession after the death of a 42-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Wednesday and the death of a 66-year-old woman from Region Four on Tuesday. The Ministry has expressed condolences to the relatives of the dead men and explained that it would monitor their relatives.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony
Of the 1107 swabs that were taken for analysis on Thursday, 120 returned positive results for COVID-19 thus bringing the total confirmed cases to 9442 – 4856 males and 4586 females. Some 8430 have since recovered.
New statistics provided by the Ministry revealed that seven persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 46 in institutional isolation, 747 in home isolation, and eight in institutional quarantine.
Guyana has tested 79, 415 persons thus far.
The new cases were detected across seven administrative regions, with one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 11 in Region Three; a whopping 77 in Region Four; eight in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 17 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain at 1025, 246, and 436 respectively.
This week, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that for Guyana to lower the age requirements to access the COVID-19 vaccine, there has to be a constant supply for the continuation of the exercise.
The Government’s vaccination programme targets frontline workers, health workers, and the elderly mainly because they are considered to be the most at risk. The Minister said that the above 60 age requirement was linked to the fact that those persons were more at risk and an assessment of the fatality trend showed that older persons were falling victim to the virus.
Dr Anthony had added that the challenge was to ensure that the country has an adequate supply of vaccines and they have been working to ensure that the flow of vaccines is constant. He informed that they were also expecting some vaccines through the COVAX mechanism and once those arrive, there would be a reassessment.
Meanwhile, the curfew which forms part of the national COVID-19 measures, will remain the same throughout March, that is from 22:30h (10:30pm) to 04:00h (4am). The national COVID-19 measures also clearly outline that flights from Brazil are prohibited until further notice.
No one is permitted to host or attend a private party, wake or vigil, meeting, fraternity or any other social activity, or go to a club, banquet hall, bar, public swimming pool or water park or cinema except for drive-in movies. Gyms are to operate at 50 per cent capacity while sporting events are only permitted with approval from the Health Minister.
Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of speech or movement. If persons are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
