25 new COVID-19 cases recorded

– international airports to remain closed until August 31

Guyana recorded 25 new coronavirus cases as of Saturday, which brought the total number to 673 cases to date.
On the Health Ministry’s daily dashboard, it was noted that the number of deaths is still 22.
Notwithstanding, 104 persons are in institutional isolation, 37 in institutional quarantine and 21 are under home isolation. With seven persons in the designated Intensive Care Unit, a total of 310 persons have made complete recoveries.
A gender distribution shows that 334 males contracted the virus this far, as opposed to 340 females. This changes the dynamics seen when COVID-19 first struck, which showed more men testing positive.
Meanwhile, a breakdown of the regional contraction rate shows that 104 positives were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), eight in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 29 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 190 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 155 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 10 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 138 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 39 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
To date, health authorities have conducted tests on 5933 persons and no positive cases were detected in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
Statistics show that Guyana’s border countries continue to report positive cases. In Brazil, there are over 3.1 million cases with over 104,000 deaths. Suriname has 2653 cases while Venezuela has reported 29,088 positives.
From Monday to Saturday, 104 new cases were reported. These originated from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Riversview in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Since taking office earlier this month, the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has already indicated that additional doctors and other medical personnel have been deployed to affected areas to assist with the outbreak that is rapidly spreading in those regions.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud earlier this week reminded the population to remain vigilant and get tested should they detect any symptoms.
“Guyanese, I urge to you to come forward and get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been [in] contact with someone suspected of the disease. Further, persons who have concerns about their status regarding COVID-19 can make contact with our testing sites for an evaluation. Being tested means you know your status and gives you the ability to seek the necessary treatment and further prevent the spread of this detrimental disease,” Dr Persaud had outlined.
Persons are asked to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing and continue their sanitary practices to curtail any possible spread. Those experiencing symptoms are asked to get tested for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt Col Egbert Field has confirmed that the country’s international airports will remain closed until August 31, 2020.
The last issued directive on the continued suspension of scheduled international flight operations was set to expire at 20:00h on August 15.
He noted that the new Government is working to put systems in place for the reopening of the country’s borders which has been closed since March 18.
The Director noted that limited repatriation flights, outgoing flights, cargo flights, medivac flights, technical stops, and special authorised flights will continue to operate as dictated by Phase 1 of the reopening plan.