38 new COVID-19 cases recorded

As of Saturday, the total number of cases from the novel coronavirus is 3710 in Guyana, after there were 38 new detections. As persons have recovered, only 1019 cases are currently active.
The daily dashboard showed the number of deaths remaining at 109. Two persons were removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which now has 14 patients.
There are 119 patients in institutional isolation, 843 in home isolation and 43 in institutional quarantine.
Another 38 persons recovered, indicating the total recoveries to 2625.
A regional breakdown showed that six new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), three in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 25 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and four in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
There were no increases within Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) remaining at 61, 25, 55, 343, 272 and respectively.
Two more persons would have died as a result of the life-threatening virus on Friday, which raised the death toll to 109. The fatalities were a 48-year-old male from Region One and a 71-year-old female from Region Four. They both died while receiving care at a specialised medical facility.
It has been announced that 12 CARPHA Member States have signed agreements with Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance – namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos to access vaccines when it becomes available. CARPHA is assisting seven of these member states with the down payment. Guyana is among a list of six countries, including Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Lucia, as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines that automatically qualify to access the Vaccine Alliance.
The down payment stands at approximately 15 per cent of the value of vaccines that countries intend to procure in the future.
As part of the agreement, the Pan American Health Organisation will receive funds from CARPHA for transfer to GAVI. When the vaccines are available, Member States will purchase them through the PAHO Revolving Fund.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony would have led an inspection at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, on Saturday as they work to get the facility completely functional. Without the intensive care facility, mild patients at the hospital would have to be transferred should their condition worsen.
He said, “We are trying to bring this facility into operation so we started by having mild patients here and if those mild patients decompensate, then we have to take them back to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The idea now is to make sure that we can have all levels here. With the installation of the ventilators, setting up of the ICU, we would be required to provide all levels of care that is required for COVID.”
All Guyanese were reminded to observe the protocols, which are in effect until October 31, 2020. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and practice of good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy. (G12)