28 COVID-19 cases recorded from 329 tests

From a total of 329 swab samples, 28 new COVID-19 cases were detected on Tuesday. The new statistics were provided in the Health Ministry’s dashboard. The deaths remained at 166.
The latest fatalities were reported on Monday, following the deaths of a 70-year-old from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and an 85-year-old from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
In the facilities, five patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, 18 in institutional isolation and 46 in institutional quarantine. There are also 270 persons in home isolation. To date, Guyana has tested 39,324 individuals. Of this amount 6407 tested positive and 5948 have made full recoveries.

New cases
Meanwhile, an analysis of new cases showed that five were confirmed in Region One (Barima-Waini); two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 11 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The cases in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) remained constant at 306.
On Monday, it was reported that several dorm students tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning to school. In giving an update on the situation, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said on Tuesday the testing is continuing in dorms across the country.
“It’s a work in progress. We have been working in every region where there is a dorm school. We have been collaborating with the Ministry of Education. As the students come back from their vacation and into the dorms, we have been working to test them…It is not something that is new now to the staff because we would have done that when we first reopened school in 2020,” the Minister shared.
This publication understands that the positive students are asymptomatic and are currently isolated from the general population. They will remain in isolation for 10 days.
In recent time, the Ministry has been able to introduce rapid antigen tests. Dr Anthony is of the belief that this has changed the landscape of testing in Guyana, especially in the hinterland communities. Meanwhile, the GeneXpert machines have also been deployed in the hinterland communities to provide additional support and testing in these areas.
“We have introduced the antigen testing. These are done at the point where you see the person. It takes between 20-30 minutes to do. That has changed the dynamic of how we do testing and we have deployed this into the far-off regions so that they can use it on site.”
The Ministry has reminded the public of the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; maintaining the six feet physical distance from others and good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
Global statistic from the World Health Organisation showed that there are over 84.4 million cases of COVID-19 with 1.82 million deaths. (G12)