4 more COVID fatalities take September death toll to 119

…258 new cases detected in 24h

With just about six days before September comes to an end, the Health Ministry has reported that a total of 119 persons have succumbed to COVID-19. This figure includes the four deaths recorded on Thursday.
The death toll has now jumped to 744 since the first death in March 2020. The Health Ministry has stated that a 69-year-old unvaccinated male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died on September 19 while a fully-vaccinated male from the same region died on September 22.
An 81-year-old partially-vaccinated female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and a 58-year-old unvaccinated male from Region Four later died on September 23.
The patients were admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms, and died while receiving care at a medical institution. Samples taken at the time of admission subsequently returned positive results.
New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 258 new cases were detected in one day. The total confirmed cases in the country have now climbed to 30,444. There are 37 patients being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 171 in institutional isolation, 3644 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine.
Some 24,848 of the 14,508 males and 15,936 females that tested positive have since recovered. Guyana has tested 306,364 persons since the virus was detected here.
Of the new cases, eight were in Region One (Barima-Waini); nine in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 67 in Region Three; 151 in Region Four; eight in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); six in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).
There were no new cases in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony reminded on Thursday that the coronavirus would manifest differently in people who have tested positive. Some people would have minimal symptoms and are isolated at home until they recover. A majority of persons, especially those that are vaccinated, would exhibit mild symptoms. The third category which are usually unvaccinated , usually presents with more serious symptoms.
“The other category, which is basically the unvaccinated, we have seen those persons when they get sicker, they have to come to the hospital. At all the regional hospitals, they’re able to manage the COVID patients. We have made special provisions to have enough oxygen and other things necessary for the treatment of these patients,” he informed.

There are 157 hospitalised cases in the country. Of this number, 97 are at the Infectious Diseases Hospital – 37 in the ICU. The facility also houses six pregnant women while the Georgetown Public Hospital is monitoring another 13.
A breakdown of cases at regional hospitals shows three at Port Kaituma, two at Suddie, 10 at West Demerara, 13 at Mahaicony, four at New Amsterdam, two at Skeldon, three at Bartica, two at Mahdia, and eight at Wismar.
“At GPHC, we have limited amount of space to accommodate persons there and so we normally would keep some of those patients at Ocean View. When they [pregnant women] are ready to deliver, we transfer them to GPHC,” said the Minister.
In the adult vaccination campaign, 351,981 persons or 68.1 per cent of persons have taken their first dose while 181,862 or 35.5 per cent have returned for their second dose.
For children, some 21,595 have taken a first dose or 29.6 per cent.
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 the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when in public, the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others and the need for good hand hygiene.