5-month-old baby among 3 dead from COVID, death toll now stands at 706

…241 new positives detected in last 24 hours

The Health Ministry on Friday announced that a 5-month-old baby girl was among the three persons who died from COVID-19 in Guyana.
The child, who hailed from Region One, died on September 16. This publication understands that she was suffering from other health complications.
Later, on September 17, two males from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), aged 69 and 79, also succumbed. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to a whopping 706.
The patients, the Ministry stated, 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.
Back in July, a 16-year-old died after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He was suffering from an underlying illness.
Additionally, in May 2021, a 17-year-old boy also succumbed after he was infected. Previously in November 2020, an 11-year-old cancer patient also died at the Georgetown Public Hospital and was later classified as a COVID-19 death. That same month, a 6-day-old baby also died from the virus.
Meanwhile, the daily dashboard showed an increase of 241 cases, resulting in a total 29,072 cases. Some 13,906 males contracted the virus along with 15,166 females.
There are 35 persons in the specialised Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 164 in institutional isolation, 3347 in home isolation and 18 in institutional quarantine. The number of recoveries now stands at 24,820, while 295,931 persons have been tested to date.
Regionally, there were 10 new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); three in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 48 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 96 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 14 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); six in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 21 in Region Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni); 23 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); five in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
This week, statistics showed that from the 3000 active coronavirus cases currently being treated in Guyana, almost 2000 of them are from Region Four while Region Three accounted for the second highest cases, at more than 800.
When asked about his Government’s take on more stringent measures, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said this week, “We’re constantly evaluating but again, it’s not about we as the Government can do. It’s what people should be doing because this is a behavioural thing and it is more about attitude. The Government can’t go police somebody if they’re not wearing their mask. We’ll try but really this is an individual’s behaviour. We wouldn’t be there at all times with somebody seeing how they wear their mask.”
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.