…Regions 3, 4, 6 have most active cases
Three men on Sunday died from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) – increasing Guyana’s death toll to 1033.
All three persons would have tested positive and later succumbed to the virus. They included a 74-year-old from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and an 84-year-old and 67-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). Two of them were unvaccinated while the status of the eldest is unknown.
In total, 18,347 men have been infected with the virus, when compared to 20,544 women. An updated dashboard on Monday showed 21 new cases of the virus, taking the total positives recorded to date to 38,891. Some 11 persons are being monitored in the ICU, 35 in institutional isolation and 713 in home isolation. No one is currently in institutional quarantine. Recoveries stand at 37,099.
Some 412,954 COVID-19 tests have been administered since the virus was detected here.
Regionally, a breakdown showed one new infection in Region One (Barima-Waini), two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 11 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
There were no increases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There are 818 active cases – 390 in Region Four, 189 in Region Six and 95 in Region Three. Speaking on the drop of infections being recorded, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday said it is linked to lower testing. Persons who have been potentially exposed to the virus were asked to get themselves tested.
“Across the board, not a lot of people are coming to get tested and therefore, it might give us a sense that we have a decrease in cases where as if there is a drop in testing, then we wouldn’t accurately be able to see what is happening with the pandemic across the country. Those persons who believe they might’ve been exposed to COVID, we’re asking them to go and get tested,” the health official urged.
There are adequate testing sites in every administrative region while the regional hospitals are also equipped to swab persons, he added.
“It’s the responsible thing to do because if you test positive, then you’re required to isolate so that you don’t continue that chain of spreading the disease…In terms of hospitalisation, generally over the last couple of weeks, we have seen a decrease in hospitalisation but we also have to remain vigilant.”
J&J concerns
With the United States Centers for Disease Control expressing concerns about the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines, the Health Minister said local officials will review the use of this drug in its immunisation campaign in light of the various findings which are being publicised.
However, he noted that so far, the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to recommend this vaccine as an effective means of fighting the novel coronavirus and until a definitive decision is made, this vaccine will continue to be used locally.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that just over 50 persons developed a rare side effect of blood clots after using the JJ jabs. However, he compared that this number was derived from 40 million people that took the jabs worldwide, adding that the benefits outweigh the risks
“It’s an extremely rare event. There have been more than 40 million J&J that has been administered around the world and they have seen a few cases of this…In Guyana, we would certainly review the technical information that this is emerging from the CDC and see whether or not we would need to change our recommendations. But so far, the WHO continues to recommend the J&J vaccine.”
The Organisation has also recommended that a second dose be administered two months after the first dose.
Latest statistics show that 408,838 or 79.7 per cent of the adult population have received a first dose COVID-18 vaccine while 290,688 or 56.7 per cent are fully immunised. Meanwhile, in the 12 to 17 age category, some 21,309 are fully inoculated or 29.2 per cent. For booster shots, 9156 were administered. (G12)
