A young woman from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is the latest person to succumb to COVID-19, the Health Ministry announced on Friday.
The 26-year-old, who was vaccinated with both primary COVID vaccine doses, died on February 1. As such, Guyana’s death toll has increased to 1295.
Fourteen new cases were reflected in the updated dashboard, reflecting 72,984 confirmed cases.
Currently, the Health Ministry is tracking 296 active COVID cases – with five cases in Region One; two in Region Two; 13 in Region Three; 159 in Region Four; 11 in Region Five; 10 in Region Six; 46 in Region Seven; one in Region Eight; 26 in Region Nine and 23 in Region 10.
Some 13 persons are in hospitals, inclusive of one in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Two of these patients are at regional hospitals while the remainder are seeking treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal.
There are 10 persons in institutional isolation, 93 in home isolation and zero in institutional quarantine. Recoveries stand at 71,585.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has disclosed that it is difficult to pronounce on whether COVID-19 infections are increasing or decreasing, since many persons are not showing up to be tested.
However, he has warned that these persons would not be properly diagnosed.
“The challenge here is that a lot of people who have symptoms are not coming to get tested. If they are not coming, then they are not properly diagnosed. I think a lot of people get flu-like symptoms and they believe it is the flu and, in some instances, it could be COVID-19. The safer thing to do if you have flu-like symptoms, then you should also get tested for COVID-19. In that way, if you test positive, then you should isolate yourself,” the Minister explained during Friday’s COVID update.
Amid reported cases where persons have experienced symptoms but their rapid test showed negative, the Health Minister cautioned that these home kits should be properly used.
“We have what is called rapid tests or tests that you would use at home. If somebody doesn’t use it properly, you can have a negative result or a wrong result. You have to read the instructions properly if you’re going to use a rapid test.”
He also added that rapid tests are only effective if a person has been infected for a number of days. There is a window where the virus is present but would not reflect a positive result.
“In some cases, what you will need to have is a repeat of the test. But if you test with a rapid test and you’re negative and you want to confirm, then you should do a PCR. The PCR would be more accurate.”
PCR tests are processed at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory but samples are taken at testing sites across the country.
All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue observing the public health measures set out by the Health Ministry. This encourages the need for everyone five years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for everyone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining a safe distance of six feet from others and; good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. (G12) 26-year-old woman succumbs to COVID-19