2 new cases bring Guyana’s COVID-19 count to 139

The Public Health Ministry on Tuesday announced two more positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which raise Guyana’s total number to 139.
On their daily dashboard, it showed that there are still 11 deaths, with 62 recovered cases.
To date, some 1499 samples were tested of which 1360 proved to be negative. Nevertheless, the designated facilities are occupied with two persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and two in quarantine. Another 66 patients are in isolation.
On Monday, reports were released of a Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini) man losing his life to the disease. He was the 11th recorded death.
Vincent Torres, a former teacher, was admitted to the Kumaka District Hospital, Santa Rosa, last Friday after experiencing breathing complications and other symptoms. A COVID-19 test was conducted on the man, which revealed that he was positive.
However, the elderly man succumbed on Sunday and medical personnel who tended to him were placed in isolation. His death was confirmed by caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence.
At present, transport boats operating in the sub-district were suspended and authorities in Santa Rosa have imposed travel restrictions in the area after it was revealed that Torres had travelled between his village and Georgetown for various transactions.
This week, health authorities are focusing on hinterland regions, since three out of the four are affected by the novel strand of coronavirus. The caretaker Minister pointed out that the mining communities make them even more vulnerable since persons are travelling to and from the coastland. While expressing concern over these threats, there have been no announcements to remove mining as an essential service on the official COVID-19 gazette document.
While Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is considered the epicentre, it is closely followed by Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
“Three of the four hinterland regions are affected. I wish to draw your attention particularly to Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) where seven positive cases have been identified, most of these cases coming from the mining community. We are concerned particularly because other mining communities can be affected since our miners can transport this disease from the coastland into the interior,” she had stated.
The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has called on miners to undertake greater protective and control measures as they continue to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, organisations like the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) have called for mining to be ceased, owing to imminent threats which communities face through the movement of people.
Globally, there are 5,304,772 cases with 342,029 deaths. In the region of the Americas, the statistics are 2,395,295 reported cases with 141,472 deaths.