4 more COVID-19 deaths, 98 new cases recorded

Four more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have died, taking the country’s death toll to 904.
The Health Ministry informed on Thursday that three of these persons were unvaccinated while one was fully-vaccinated.
A 64-year-old male from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) died on October 22. Then, two persons from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – a 67-year-old male and a 56-year-old female succumbed on October 27. The last person was a 58-year-old female from Region Four, who died on October 28.
Meanwhile, the daily dashboard showed an increase of 98 cases, resulting in a total of 35,350 cases. Some 16,719 males and 18,631 females contracted the virus.
There are 23 persons in the specialised Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 70 in institutional isolation, 2832 in home isolation and 10 in institutional quarantine. The number of recoveries now stands at 31,521, while 351,051 persons have been tested to date.
Regionally, there were three new infections in Region One (Barima-Waini); one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); five in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 52 in Region Four; six in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 25 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and four in Region 10.
No increases were reported in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat has exercised more stringency in issuing permission for social gatherings in light of blatant violations. He explained that there were many cases where more people than stipulated were accommodated.
“The orders are explicit how many persons can be in such setting and our experience has been that people abuse. When they ask for permission and they’re given permission, they abuse that permission. Very often, they have more people than they’re allowed. Most of those people are not adhering to any COVID-19 measures and therefore, those events potentially become a place where COVID can be spread and we’re very mindful of that,” he expressed.
For restaurants and bars, if the Task Force finds breaches to the vaccination requirement, then the establishment in question can be shut down.
“We don’t want to do that, but people need to abide by the rules. If they’re not going to abide by the rules, then they leave us with no alternative, but to shut the business now…COVID-19 is not a governmental problem. COVID-19 is a societal problem and the only way we can return to some level of normalcy is if all of us behave responsibly,” Dr Anthony stressed.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 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: correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home, maintaining six feet of physical distance from others and good hand hygiene. (G12)