5 Reg 4 residents succumb to COVID, 240 new cases recorded

…non-Guyanese must be fully vaccinated to enter Guyana

The Health Ministry has reported that five more persons from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) have succumbed to the deadly virus, thus taking the death toll to 523.
The Ministry on Saturday reported that these patients 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 as positive.
Those who succumbed are a 73-year-old woman who died on June 29 while an 86-year-old male died on July 23; a 60-year-old man died on July 22; a 45-year-old male succumbed on July 21 and a 73-year-old female died on June 2.
However, new statistics provided by the Ministry on Saturday showed a whopping 240 new cases of which 173 are from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). Total confirmed positives in the country moved to 22,090. There are 11 patients in the Intensive Care Unit, 75 in institutional isolation, 978 in home isolation and two in institutional quarantine.
In total, health officials are monitoring 1064 active cases. Some 20,503 individuals have since recovered. The country has swabbed 217,421 individuals since the start of the pandemic, of which 10,779 males and 11,311 females returned with positive results.
An analysis of the other new cases showed two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 18 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 29 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 12 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and four in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) did not increase.

Fully vaccinated
Meanwhile, in a new gazetted document, published as of July 23, 2021; Government has taken a decision that non-Guyanese passengers travelling from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana, with the exception of children, should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed entry into the country.
The twin-island republic has been recording alarming numbers of deaths and cases from the virus. As of Saturday, there were 300 new cases. Since the pandemic started, some 1032 persons have died in Trinidad and Tobago after they would have contracted the virus while the country grapples with over 5800 active cases currently.
In the meanwhile, over 181,299 people have been completely vaccinated using the Sinopharm or AstraZeneca jabs.
For travel into Guyana, the requirements include a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. This past week, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said given that there has been an increase in COVID-19 vaccines globally, vaccination requirements are being considered for entry into the country.
Currently, over 26 per cent of the adult population have been vaccinated with both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while over 50 per cent have received a first dose.
Authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew that is in effect until July 31, 2021.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.