…102 new cases recorded
The Health Ministry reported three more Covid-19 deaths as of Thursday now brining Guyana’s total death toll to 277 – 44 of which were recorded for April.
Recent fatalities are three males – a 76-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), a 70-year- old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and a 42-year-old from Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne).
Additionally, the revised dashboard saw the overall positives moving to 12,234 after an alarming 102 cases were conformed in one day. This represented 5624 males and 5420 females.
Active cases are at 1402 – 12 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 66 in institutional isolation and 1324 on home isolation. Another 16 persons are in institutional quarantine. Recoveries are now at 10,555.
Of the new positives, three are from Region One (Barima-Waini); one from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 19 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 55 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); seven in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica); 10 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and six in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There total cases in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remain at 996 and 252 respectively.
With vaccination, persons are primed with antibodies to defend against any contact with the coronavirus. Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony expounded on this process on Thursday, detailing that the two doses combine to offer long-term protection. 
“When you get the first dose of a vaccine, it starts stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies. After a certain time, those antibodies can drop a little bit so with a second dose, it makes sure the level of antibodies in your system remains at an acceptable level. If you come in contact with the virus, your immune system would recognize this virus very early and react to defend your body,” the health official indicated.
He reminded that if a person contracts the virus, it is recommended to wait until complete recovery before taking the vaccine. Most persons cover this window of time between doses.
“What we would advise is that people wait until they would have recovered fully and then come for your second dose…That’s the formulation that we have been using because if by chance somebody gets an infection of COVID after your first dose, we want that that person to be fully recovered before you get the second dose.”
He also clarified apprehensions concerning the vaccines by assuring that it is not a ‘time bomb’. Moreover, there is evidence to prove that it works.
“Vaccines have been proven to help to eradicate diseases. We’ve had experiences with a number of vaccines in childhood diseases and because of those vaccines, literally millions of children’s lives have been saved. So, we know that vaccines work and in this case with the COVID-19 vaccines, it has been very protective. It has served to reduce infections, reduce hospitalization and for most of the vaccines, they 100 per cent protective,” Dr Anthony stressed. (G12)
