26-year-old among new COVID-19 deaths

A 26-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is among two new COVID-19 deaths which were reported as at Monday. Those deaths have moved the country’s death toll to 561.
The other fatality was a 66-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). They both died on Sunday while receiving care at medical facilities.
There has been an increase of 12 new cases, and confirmed cases in the country have climbed to 22,992.
There are 12 patients in the Intensive Care Unit, 86 in institutional isolation, 691 in home isolation, and six in institutional quarantine.
Guyana has tested 235,511 persons thus far, of which 21,637 have recovered.
Of the new cases, six were from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), four from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and two from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
There has been no new case in Region One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Some 267,150 persons, or 54.9 per cent of the adult population, have been vaccinated in Guyana, of which 144,324 or 29.6 per cent have received their second dose.

Masks mandatory
In the latest COVID-19 briefing on Monday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said vaccinated persons should wear their masks, especially when indoors, as mandated under new guidelines by the Center for Diseases Control (CDC).
“You should make sure that you wear your mask, because the Delta variant is very contagious, and masking plus vaccination would help to protect you,” he posited.
Apart from the current accepted vaccines, foreigners who have been immunised with other developed vaccines would be treated on a case-by-case basis, but authorities would have to be informed beforehand.
“We know that, depending on where a traveller might be coming from, that there might be other vaccines that they might have used; so, persons travelling in from India might use COVAXIN, which has not really received its WHO approval as yet, but it’s pending approval. Persons travelling from Cuba might have received one of the vaccines developed in Cuba. So, once we know, we’ll treat those on a case-by-case basis,” he promised.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, 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. (G12)