…35 persons in ICU
Guyana’s COVID-19 deaths continue to rise, and the Health Ministry on Saturday announced four more fatalities.
Just four days into September, 15 persons have died from the virus. Now, the death toll has risen to 640. 
Those who succumbed were all females; an 85-year-old from Region Three and 62-year-old from Region Six who succumbed on September 3. Previously on September 2, a 51-year-old from Region Four and a 79-year-old from Region Five also died.
These patients were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving care at medical institutions. Samples were taken at the time of admission which subsequently returned positive tests.
An updated dashboard showed cases increasing by 183, hiking the total confirmed to 26,295. There are 35 patients being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit, 118 in institutional isolation, 1988 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine.
Some 23,514 of the 12,686 males and 13,609 females that tested positive have since recovered. Guyana has tested 274,377 persons since the virus was detected here.
New cases
An analysis of new cases showed five from Region One (Barima-Waini); 12 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 16 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 124 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); five in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 10 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); five in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Cases in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) did not increase.
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 www.health.gov.gy
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.
Vaccine drive-through
The Health Ministry on Saturday organised another drive-through activity at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, in which scores of persons turned up to get their shots.
This time around, the event was opened for the adolescent age group, in keeping with Government’s mandate to enable safe reopening of schools. Meanwhile, adults also showed up to get their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Currently, the adolescent vaccination campaign, using the Pfizer jab, is being rolled out across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Senior Nurse Coordinator at the Ministry, Carol Persaud-Douglas told this publication, “This is to round up all of the adolescents within the Region Four catchment area to be immunised before the reopening of school. We are doing adults who are interested in first and second doses…This morning, it was crowded. We had a very good response.”
These efforts will continue in order to take the country closer to herd immunity. As it is, over 318,000 persons have been immunised in Guyana and more than 166,000 have been completely vaccinated. (G12)
