The coronavirus death toll moved to 609 on Friday with the announcement of three more deaths – among which is a 28-year-old man.
Other fatalities were a 67-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man. The Health Ministry informed that these persons died on August 25 while seeking care at a medical facility. For August, 63 persons have died.
There were 103 new cases in one day, according to the Ministry’s dashboard, with the total confirmed cases in the country moving 24,967 – 12,081 males and 12,886 females.
Active cases are at 1682 and include 22 patients in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 1555 in home isolation and 105 in institutional isolation. Three persons are also in institutional quarantine. The data shows that 22,676 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus while 262,087 have been tested.
New cases
There were three new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); four in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 20 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 56 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); seven in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); two in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Unvaccinated persons
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said on Friday that unvaccinated persons who fail to produce negative PCR tests and stay away from work will be marked absent. Their salaries will also be deducted for this absenteeism.
“The only way that you can protect yourself is really to get vaccinated. I do hope that good sense prevails and that they would go and get vaccinated and if they don’t get vaccinated then the option would be that you can present your PCR results and come to work…If you don’t do any of these things, you would be marked absent and you would not be paid,” the Minister added.
The Minister said it is important for the healthcare workers to understand that they are putting themselves and patients at risk by refusing the vaccines. He added that while healthcare workers have the right to protest, their refusal to take the vaccines and their absence from work could see some of the services at the various health institutions being affected.
“Because if they have a mild form of the infection, then unknowingly they can transmit that to patients. So, this is something that we have to consider. In many other countries it is the policy of those countries to make sure that healthcare workers are protected by being vaccinated.”
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit us at www.health.gov.gy
Persons with comorbidities have been asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition. The preventative measures and guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to since this category of person is at a greater risk if they contract COVID-19. (G12)
