3 deaths, 54 new COVID-19 cases recorded

…Govt orders 20,000 antigen tests

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has gone up to 117 after three more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus died over the past two days.
According to the Health Ministry in a statement on Wednesday, all three victims are males from Region One (Barima-Waini).
The most recent death was that of a 68-year-old male, who died on Wednesday while receiving care at a medical facility.
The other two COVID-19 fatalities are 80-year-old Lionel Peters of Red Hill Settlement and 78-year-old Lewis Miller of Manawarin – both of whom died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at medical facilities.
Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-deceased persons.
These three deaths have increased the death toll thus far this week to six. The week began with the death toll at 111.

New cases
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also reported on Wednesday that 54 new COVID-19 cases were detected in the last 24 hours.
According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in the country has gone up to 3850.
Of these, however, only 895 cases are currently active, with 16 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 879 in isolation (64 in institutional isolation and the other 815 in home isolation).
Additionally, there are 36 persons in institutional quarantine. To date, some 2839 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease.
Guyana has tested a total of 17,482 persons thus far for the novel coronavirus.
Of the 54 new cases recorded on Wednesday, five are from Barima-Waini; three from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); seven from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 31 s from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and two cases each from Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
The figures in the other two regions remain the same, that is, 25 cases in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and 60 cases in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Since taking office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positives cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected. This has resulted in a high number of cases being detected.
Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 9), which are in effect until October 31, 2020. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Government had reduced the curfew hours earlier this month, fixing it from 21:00h to 04:00h (9pm to 4am). Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips had said this was to allow for the revival of economic activities in the country.
In the meantime, Government has launched “Operation COVI-CURB” – a country-wide campaign by the Joint Services and other key stakeholders, using an education and persuasion strategy, to elicit adherence to the COVID-19 safety measures to tackle the spread of the virus.
However, Shadow Health Minister, Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Karen Cummings on Wednesday during a press conference said that the curfew should return to 18:00h to 06:00h (6pm to 6am) to effectively curb the virus.

Fast-track testing in hinterland
Meanwhile, with the COVID-19 cases in the various regions continuing to spike, personnel have been stationed in all regions to collaborate with local authorities on the clinical aspects of treatment, conducting contact tracing and environmental sanitation to ensure the disease is being managed.
“Initially, Region One had a number of cases. In Moruca, there was a spike, but you recall there was a lockdown and eventually, that number went down. Now, we are seeing a lot more cases and again, we are managing to look at those villages. We have established teams working with the community leadership, educating them and urging community compliance,” Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said during his latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI) report.
In addition, Government has dispatched additional equipment such as ventilators to each region to boost their capacity to tackle and treat persons infected with the novel coronavirus.
Added to this, Dr Anthony disclosed on Wednesday that steps were being taken to fast-track testing in hinterland regions. He noted that Government has ordered 20,000 antigen tests, which are expected to arrive next month and will be deployed to various interior areas. This type of testing, he explained, will be more practical for use in remote hinterland areas.
“This is not the RTPCR tests that we take samples of and bring them to the lab. This antigen test is one where right at the site where you’re seeing the patient, if you suspect them to have COVID, you can run the test there and within 45 minutes, get back the results,” the Minister noted.