2 more women succumb to COVID, 44 new infections recorded

– death toll now 961

As of Tuesday, Guyana’s coronavirus death toll moved to 961 with two more women dying from the disease.
The latest fatalities are a 93-year-old who was unvaccinated and a 78-year-old whose vaccination status is unknown. Both women are from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and they both died on November 15.
However, new statistics proved that 44 new infections were detected within the course of one day, thus taking the total confirmed positives to 36,916.
In addition, the Health Ministry reported that 17 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 51 in institutional isolation, 2018 in home isolation and seven in institutional quarantine. Throughout the pandemic, 373,796 individuals were tested – of which 17,404 males and 19,512 females were positive.
A regional breakdown of the new cases showed that one person tested positive in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); eight in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 23 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); seven in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) had no new cases. Meanwhile, first dose uptake for persons 60 years and above is now at 79 per cent; 76.7 per cent for persons 40 to 50 years; and 72.5 per cent for those 18 to 39 years of age. Meanwhile for children, first dose coverage is at 39 per cent.
Second doses by age category shows 66.2 per cent for 60 years and above; 56.9 per cent for persons 40 to 50 years; and 43.7 per cent for those 18 to 39. There is a 26.9 per cent uptake for children ages 12 to 17.
“Based on this age stratification, we want those numbers that are in the 70s for the first dose to get those up to about 80-85 per cent. We still have a lot of work to do to move it up. Then for the age category 12 to 17, first dose is relatively low. It’s just 39 per cent so we have to address this and get these numbers up just like the other age groups,” Dr Frank Anthony stated on Tuesday.
Dr Anthony stated that persons are still not returning for their second doses, despite some 100 fixed sites across the country.
“We have had some unfortunate experiences when we go to particular communities, that the communities believe that they don’t need to take the vaccine and they have rejected the vaccination team. They don’t want them to go into these communities and because of that, relatively large amounts of people in some communities have not received their vaccines,” he expressed.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.