57 more persons test positive for COVID-19

– curfew, other restrictions extended for another month

Guyana has recorded 57 new cases of COVID-19 from some 944 tests conducted over a 24h period.
According to new statistics provided by the Health Ministry, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana now stands at 10,249 – 5243 males and 5006 females.
Of this number, however, 920 cases are currently active. Those include 12 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 908 persons in isolation; that is, 59 in institutional isolation and 849 in home isolation.
There are also another 13 persons in institutional quarantine.
Nevertheless, the country’s COVID-19 death rate has skyrocketed to 231, with the latest facility being a 56-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman, both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died on Monday while receiving care at a medical facility.
In total, some 34 persons died from COVID-19 in March.
To date, some 9098 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 100 more recoveries than the figure recorded the previous day.
Guyana has tested some 89,958 persons for the novel coronavirus since its first case was detected in March 2020.
Of the 57 new cases recorded on Wednesday, one was in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); nine in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 18 in the Demerara-Mahaica region; another nine in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 15 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
The figures in the other four regions – Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Essequibo-Takutu) – remained the same.
Meanwhile, as the local authorities continue to battle the pandemic and spiking COVID-19 cases, the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES (NO16) have been extended for another month, and will now be in effect until April 30, 2021.
Persons are urged to observe all the guidelines which were published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday and which remain unchanged.
Among those measures is the 22:30h to 04:00h (10:30pm to 4am) national curfew.
Restaurants and places of worship are still allowed to operate at 40 per cent capacity until 21:30 (9:30 pm). Gyms are to operate at 50 per cent capacity, while sporting events are only permitted with approval from the Health Minister.
In addition, restrictions on a number of social activities also remain in effect. Specifically, the guidelines state that no person shall host or attend a cinema (except for a drive-in cinema), a private party, a reception, a public or hotel swimming pool, a wake or vigil, a club, a meeting, or any other social activity. The order further stipulates the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six-foot physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
In addition, this month’s COVID-19 guidelines cater for the continuation of Lethem crossing to be opened on Thursdays, and “…only to facilitate the crossing of essential goods and supplies…” between the two border towns.
Guyana’s suspension of air travel to and from Brazil following the detection of new variants of COVID-19 there remains in effect.
In relation to the Moleson Creek crossing, travels between Guyana and Suriname will continue three days per week.
The measures also reminded that persons caught flouting these restrictions would be held liable.