3 more die, 104 new COVID-19 cases recorded

…hesitancy still affecting vaccine uptake – Health Minister

Another three more persons have lost their lives to COVID-19, moving the country’s death toll to 913.
With this being the last day of the month, 114 fatalities have thus far been recorded in October. Those who succumbed included one unvaccinated person, while the vaccination status of the other two were unknown. A 58-year-old female from Region Six died on October 27, then an 86-year-old male from Region Four succumbed on October 29; and that fatality was followed by the demise of a 75-year-old female from Region Four on October 30.
The patients were admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms, and died while receiving care. Samples taken at the time of their admission subsequently returned positive results.
In one day, an additional 104 persons have tested positive, leading confirmed cases to 35,548. There are 17 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 65 in institutional isolation, 2758 in home isolation, and eight in institutional quarantine.
Since onset of the pandemic in March 2020, a total of 354,230 individuals have been tested, of which 16,805 males and 18,743 females were found to have contracted the virus.
Meanwhile, a regional breakdown of new cases shows 10 in Region One (Barima-Waini), 12 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 42 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), seven in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 23 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), five in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). There was no increase in either Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) or Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Vaccine hesitancy
Despite continuous sensitisation by the Health Ministry, there is still low turnout at some immunisation sites, contributing to paltry vaccine statistics for some regions.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony informed during the latest COVID-19 update that Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have continuously recorded low rates of vaccine uptake. On some days, no one is showing up at some vaccination centres.

“We have seen low rates in Region 10 and Region Eight. I guess the reasons for this low coverage is because of perceptions, hesitancy, and I think that is what is driving the low coverage. We have on the ground in Region 10 between 15 and 20 sites that are operating every day to do vaccination. Unfortunately, at these sites, you probably get two or three persons coming in any given day. In some cases, no person would show up at some of the sites,” the Minister shared.
Dr Anthony pointed out that significant resources have been expended to offer the vaccines and sensitize the public. Sites will be continuously opened, and other efforts would be made to increase the rate of uptake.
“We’re expending a lot of resources, but if people don’t come, we’re not getting the kinds of returns that we expect. Nevertheless, we have kept these sites open. We have continued our education programme. In some cases, we have gone house-to-house to talk to people; and unfortunately, there is still a lot of hesitancy,” Dr Anthony lamented.
It has been highlighted that, over in Region Eight, religious beliefs are playing a part in the hesitancy, and religious leaders have been engaged on the importance of protection through vaccination.
Dr Anthony shared, “In Region Eight, we have done similar things; and another factor that is in play there in some communities is religious factor. We have been able to get some religious leaders to go into those communities to have discussions with the local religious leaders, to talk to them about the importance of getting vaccinated. But despite these efforts, we have only seen a modest uptake of the vaccine.”
The Minister was keen to note that if communities lag behind in uptake of the vaccine, pockets of high-risk areas would be formed, through which the virus can be contracted easily.
He cautioned, “We have to continue working, because if we don’t, many other areas in Guyana would get closer to herd immunity, and within our country, we will have areas that will be endemic for COVID. Those areas, because it would be high-risk for travel, you can get COVID.”
Recent vaccination numbers show first dose uptake at 381,013 persons, or 74.3 per cent of the adult population. However, second dose uptake stands at 242,327 persons, or 47.2 per cent of the adult population. Some 27,276 children have been administered first doses, and 18,058 children have been administered second doses. (G12)