…active cases stand at 145
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle on Friday informed that five new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been detected in one day. 
This has raised the total confirmed cases to 320.
Within 24 hours, health authorities conducted 75 COVID-19 tests, and five returned positive. All new positives were from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
With 19 deaths from the virus, the number of active cases in institutional isolation is 145; eight persons are in institutional quarantine and five patients are in the COVID-19 ICU. To date, the total number of samples processed is 4796. The number of persons tested is 3558 with 3238 being negative.
With 50 per cent recovery, the DCMO said, “We at the Ministry also wish to see a similar decline in our number of cases; so our plea for the upcoming weekend is for all of us to adhere to the guidelines outlined for our safety.”
From today, further relaxation of measures is due to take effect as part of the caretaker Administration’s plans to reopen the economy.
Phase Three of the national reopening indicates a change in the curfew hours to 20:00h to 06:00h (8 pm to 6 am). However, this curfew will not apply to Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Mondays to Friday but shall be in effect on weekends.
The previous 18:00h to 06:00h curfew will also remain in Aranka and Arangoy in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Moruca in Region One (Barima-Waini) until August 3.
In light of this, the DCMO warned, “I know that many of us will want to take full advantage of these new measures, but please do not throw caution to the wind and behave as if the situation is back to normal. Do not forget that COVID-19 is still a highly infectious disease, that there will be asymptomatic persons around us from whom we may become infected. Do not take unnecessary risks and leave home without your mask and fail to observe the physical distancing protocol.”
Meanwhile, food services and restaurants are permitted to open for delivery, drive-thru, curbside pickup and take away services from 06:00h to midnight daily. Indoor and buffet dining is prohibited. Outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted from 6 am to 6 pm under strict conditions. They are required to place tables six feet apart from each other with no more than four persons permitted to seat at one table, at least three feet apart.
Public transportation services (except in Aranka, Arangoy and Moruca) are now allowed to operate at a 75 per cent passenger capacity. Private Sector construction is permitted to resume, including clothing, shoes and book stores.
Presently, Regions One and Seven are the target areas for intervention, owing to the uncontrollable infection rate but the general populace was asked to remain vigilant to any sign of the virus.
According to the World Health Organisation, the total number of cases globally is 13,378,853 with 580,045 deaths. Regionally, the number of cases is 7,016,851 with 294, 301 deaths. (G12)
