5 more COVID-19 deaths recorded

Five more persons who were infected with the novel coronavirus have died, taking the country’s death toll to a startling 925.
This was reported by the Health Ministry on Monday, adding that four of these persons were unvaccinated. All five persons died on October 31.
They included a 66-year-old female from Region Four; a 75-year-old female from Region Three; a 67-year-old male from Region Four; a 72-year-old female from Region Five; and an 88-year-old female from Region Four.
The dashboard showed that 36 new cases surfaced in one day. This raised the total confirmed cases to 35,657.
There are 13 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 57 persons in institutional isolation, 18,803 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine. In total, there have been 31,904 recoveries from the 16,854 males and 18,803 females that tested positive.
A breakdown showed 14 new cases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), four in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 12 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), two in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
No new cases were reported in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The new Emergency COVID-19 measures stipulates that the definition of a vaccinated person is now regarded as having obtained both doses of the respective COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, the curfew hours are now changed, whereby it is now effective from 00:00h to 04:00h. In addition, from 04:00h to 23:00h, stakeholders will still be able to access services at banks, markets, supermarkets, grocery shops, gas stations, postal or shipping services, beauty salons, barbershops, hardware stores, clothing stores; or other maintenance services.
The measures will take effect from November 1, 2021, and will end on November 30, 2021 – unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Health Minister after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

Relaxed curfew will not result spike
With the national curfew now being adjusted, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony is adamant that these relaxed hours will not result in a spike in COVID-19 cases.
During Monday’s COVID-19 update, the Health Minister was asked to respond to concerns that the relaxed curfew may result in an increase in cases.
“The increase in cases will be determined by peoples’ attitudes and I think we’ve had more than a year and a half where people get to understand the disease and the precautions that they need to take which would be the masking, physical distancing, sanitising,” he contended.
Dr Anthony added that the surest way to ensure there is a decline in COVID-19 cases is for persons to become fully immunised against the life-threatening virus.
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)