74 new COVID cases, 2 ICU patients monitored

Total infections of COVID-19 in Guyana have reached 66,456, after 74 new cases were reported on Saturday.
There are still 1245 confirmed deaths, with two persons in the Intensive Care Unit. From the latest dashboard, 23 persons are in institutional isolation, 884 in home isolation and six in institutional quarantine.
Additionally, total of 64,302 persons have recovered – of which 126 were new. However, almost 1000 active infections are still being monitored across health facilities. Meanwhile, 651,391 tests have been processed to date.
An analysis shows new cases dispersed among eight administrative regions, with two in Region One (Barima-Waini), two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 11 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 33 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), three in region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There were no new reported cases in Eight (Potaro-Suparuni) and Nine (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Current hotspots are Regions Three, Four and Six.
Latest vaccination figures show that so far, more than 443,177 or 86.4 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 342,918 or 66.8 per cent of persons 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.
For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, just over 34,833 or 47.8 per cent of them have received their first dose, and of that amount, some 25,532 or 35 per cent are fully immunised.
In the 5 to 11 age group, for which the Health Ministry started administering vaccines only last weekend, almost 700 children are inoculated.
Moreover, approximately 67,514 persons have returned for their third-dose booster shots thus far.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Friday said the adult vaccination numbers are “pretty good”, noting that they are hoping to get second doses up to at least 70 per cent, which is the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation. He said the country is not “far off” from achieving that.
In fact, to facilitate the working population including parents, the Health Ministry has organised a late night vaccine drive at Cuffy Square in Georgetown. Depending on the response, authorities will determine whether to establish the site as a permanent one.
This week, Government also lifted the COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel. Travelers 12 years and older are still required to be fully vaccinated for entry into Guyana. This is currently the only requirement needed to pass through the ports of entry.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need 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 532 million people have tested positive for the virus and 6.3 million have died. In the Americas, more than 158 confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths. (G12)