…persons from Regions 1, 3, 4
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle on Friday announced that six new COVID-19 cases have been detected within one day, raising the total number to 256.
After 43 tests were conducted within the span of one day, six returned positive. Along with a new total of 256 cases, the deaths remain at 14.
A regional breakdown shows that two cases originated from Region One (Barima-Waini), two from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and another two from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
To date, 2711 persons were tested with 2455 being negative. With 117 recoveries, there are 125 active cases in institutional isolation, 16 persons in institutional quarantine, and one patient in the COVID ICU.
As Guyanese continue to flout the established measures, the DCMO shared that permanent organ damage can be caused after contracting the life-threatening disease.
“Do you still believe that COVID-19 is imaginary, that you cannot contract this disease and that if you are infected, you can easily recover and move on with your life? …The aftermath of COVID, my fellow Guyanese, is even more unpredictable. You can suffer brain damage, paralysis, irreversible lung damage,” she pointed out.
In some cases, persons recovering from the disease had to undergo lung transplants due to irreversible damage. The damaged lungs are often recognised due to poor air entry and collapsed air sacs as opposed to a healthy one which is fully oxygenated. This can affect a person of any age.
This week, the country recorded two new deaths. The most recent was reported on Thursday, after 34-year-old Abdool Khan of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) succumbed in the designated Intensive Care Unit.
As such, Dr Gordon-Boyle said, “The new COVID-19 death has occurred in Region Seven, in a family where the spouse and the children are now left without a father, the breadwinner, the one on whom the family looked for comfort and protection. I am pleading with you, therefore, to consider your actions and envisage that life could change in a wink.”
Stakeholders are asked to cooperate with the compliance division of the Natural Resources Ministry, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and Disciplined Services – all of whom are working with health officials to curtail a spread.
According to the World Health Organisation, the total number of cases is 10,533,779 with 512,842 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the number of cases is 5,317,792 with 252,340 deaths.
