74 new COVID-19 cases recorded

As testing increases

…13 in ICU

As testing increases, health officials have recorded another 74 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as of Monday, which now brings the total number of positives recorded in Guyana to 1029.
One day prior, on Sunday, 30 cases were recorded – adding to the total figure of 955. The new statistics were presented on the Health Ministry’s dashboard, which showed that 508 males and 521 females have tested positive thus far.
There are still 13 persons in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 409 in home isolation, 66 in institutional isolation and 101 in institutional quarantine. The coronavirus death toll remains at 31. Another 30 persons have recovered, which increased the total recoveries to 510.
A breakdown shows that there were six new cases from Region One (Barima-Waini), two from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 47 from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 13 from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and four from Region 10 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The number of cases in the Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain the same at 54, two, 12 and 172 respectively.
To date, the Ministry has conducted tests for the novel coronavirus on 7234 persons.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had said that hundreds of positive COVID-19 cases have gone undetected over the past months given the limited number of tests conducted. Since taking office earlier this month, the new Administration has embarked on a mass testing campaign in all 10 regions of Guyana.
With over 500 cases detected this month, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said this number is expected to go up as more new cases will be detected over the coming days due to increased testing.
“It is going to go up more because as we are increasing the number of tests, we are doing so we are going to see more positives… In the past, testing was very restricted, there were very strict criteria to do the test and therefore you would have had to be displaying symptoms of COVID before you got a test,” Dr Anthony had said.
During a televised programme on Saturday to update the nation on the COVID-19 situation in Guyana, the Minister noted, however, that a large percentage of persons are asymptomatic.
“When we looked at what is happening in other parts of the world, lots of people are asymptomatic… they are unaware because they have no signs or symptoms,” the Minister noted.
Added to this, Dr Anthony pointed out that previously, less testing was done because there were limited numbers of test kits.
The Administration, upon assuming office, has managed to garner test kits from various donor agencies, countries and organisations to further Guyana’s push to identify and contain the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, test samples are being collected countrywide, something Minister Anthony said was not happening before. He mentioned that even in Regions Five and Six which were previously deemed COVID-free, scores of persons are coming forward to have tests done.
On the other hand, the facilities established in Region Four, namely at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara; Paradise, East Coast Demerara, and in Georgetown, along with the mobile units have seen as much as 400-plus samples taken to be processed. (G12)