…3777 active cases; 28 in ICU
The Health Ministry on Saturday announced the death of four more persons who were being monitored for COVID-19. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 866.
The patients were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving care at our medical institutions. Samples were taken at the time of admission which subsequently returned positive tests. 
Fatalities were two females – a 68-year-old from Region Six and a 45-year-old from Region Three – who died on October 15. Later, on October 16, a 65-year-old from Region Four and a 59-year-old from Region Five also succumbed.
The vaccination status of these persons was one unvaccinated, one partially vaccinated, one fully vaccinated and the fourth unknown.
Statistics from the latest dashboard showed an increase of 122 new cases in one day. The total confirmed cases in the country have now climbed to 34,362. There are 28 patients being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit, 125 in institutional isolation, 3624 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine.
In one week, there were 26 deaths and 666 new cases.
Some 29,719 of the 16,261 males and 18,101 females that tested positive have since recovered. However, there are still 3777 active cases in the country. Guyana has tested 337,459 persons since the virus was detected here.
An analysis of new cases showed 10 for Region One (Barima-Waini), five in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 23 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 45 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), seven in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 27 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), five in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), four for Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and seven in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There were no increases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Latest figures show vaccination surpassing 371,000 second doses or 72.3 per cent. Over 228,000 or 44.5 per cent of the adult population received both doses. For children, more than 26,100 first doses have been administered.
This past week, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director, Carissa F Etienne said that while Latin America and the Caribbean is on track to reach the WHO COVID-19 vaccination target of 40 per cent before the end of the year, six countries have yet to vaccinate 20 per cent of their populations.
In the Caribbean, cases have increased in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Barbados also reported a five-fold increase in infections over the last month.
The PAHO Director called on countries to hire and train health workers to ensure vaccines can be administered quickly, and to tackle hesitancy by equipping the health workforce at all levels to answer patients’ questions and help them understand the benefits of vaccines.
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. (G12)
