57 active COVID-19 cases in Region 4 being monitored

…5 new infections

Only five new coronavirus cases have been recorded as of Tuesday in the country, while over half of the remaining active cases are being monitored across Region Four.
The dashboard showed a total of 63,380 confirmed cases in Guyana thus far, representing 29,173 males and 34,207 females. Deaths have not increased, thereby remaining at 1228.
With zero patients being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), six are in institutional isolation, 92 in home isolation and six in institutional quarantine. A significant 62,054 recoveries have been made. Across facilities, 585,899 samples have been processed for the novel virus.
There are six hospitalised persons, inclusive of four at the Infectious Diseases Hospital on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

A breakdown of the 103 active cases reflects two in Region One (Barima-Waini), 12 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 57 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 23 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), four in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and four in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
However, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony pointed out on Tuesday that because there is a drop in the number of individuals presenting themselves for testing, the figures can be artificially low. Alertness is essential, he advised, as the region braces with new spikes.
“The numbers right now are really low…We keep monitoring but we have to be cautious because we know in other countries in the region, they have started to see a spike in cases. While most of the cases are not severe, there are still cases…We have to be careful. Right now, persons are not coming forward to be tested so we’re not doing a lot of tests. Therefore, the numbers might look artificially low so we have to be careful,” the Health Minister cautioned in his COVID update.
This month, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) urged countries within the Americas to remain vigilant as cases of COVID-19 surge in Europe and East Asia due to the Omicron BA.2 strain. In parts of North America and the Caribbean, where Omicron is becoming the predominant variant, authorities were warned that new infections are beginning to rise. The Omicron BA.2 has already been detected in 8.7 per cent of sequences reported from South America.
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.
Global figures show that almost 503.1 million people have tested positive for the virus and 6.2 million have died. In the Americas, more than 152 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths. (G12)