September is still leading as the deadliest month since the pandemic started, with a whopping 108 fatalities thus far. On Monday, eight more deaths were reported, taking the total death toll to 733.
The patients were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving care at medical institutions. Samples were taken at the time of admission which subsequently returned positive tests.
On September 20, a 70-year-old male and a 74-year-old female, both from Region Four, succumbed to the virus.
For September 19, a 50-year-old female from Region Five, 69-year-old female from Region Four, 50-year-old female from Region Two, 58-year-old male from Region Three and a 62-year-old male from Region Four also died.
A 56-year-old male from Region Three previously succumbed on September 18.
Six of these persons were vaccinated, one was partially vaccinated and the status of the eighth is unknown.
There was an increase of 130 more cases being detected within the course of one day – raising the total confirmed positives to 29,683.
There are 30 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 160 in institutional isolation, 3505 in home isolation and one in institutional quarantine. Since the pandemic, 300,822 individuals were tested – of which 14,178 males and 15,505 females were positive.
Regional breakdown of new cases
The regional breakdown of new cases showed one person testing positive in Region One (Barima-Waini); 20 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 16 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 72 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), four in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 11 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and two in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
No increases were reported for Regions Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Some 346,529 adults or 67.7 per cent have taken COVID-19 first dose vaccines, with 179,115 or 34.9 per cent second dose uptake. For adolescents, 20,136 or 28.3 per cent have been immunised.
Amid concerns over the emergency use listing that is outstanding for Sputnik V vaccines, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Monday reassured that the jabs are safe and effective.
“The vaccine, Sputnik V, is safe because we have seen the results published in the Lancet [Journal], which is one of the most prestigious journals in medicine. In the publication, it talks about the efficacy of the vaccine and we have had subsequent publications after that. Vaccines that receive emergency use listing by the WHO have to go through several processes.”
He said manufacturers would have to submit information pertaining to the vaccine, followed by an inspection of the manufacturing site. This was conducted but the World Health Organisation team was asked to revisit the sites after some questions were included in an official report.
“My understanding is that information was submitted to the EUL and that is being done on a roving basis. As they get the information, they submit it. There was an inspection that was done on six sites in Russia. In one of the reports that I have read, I saw during the inspection, the team raised questions as to one of the sites and it was explained at the time. That found its way into an official report and based on it, the authorities had to respond in an official manner. They did that and they have subsequently invited the WHO to come back and do a subsequent visit,” Dr Anthony explained.
He was optimistic that once these processes are completed, the vaccine would be granted emergency use listing. Over 30 plants apart from the Russian manufacturers have been producing the vaccine since it was created.
“In the meantime, you should know that Sputnik V is being used in more than 74 countries around the world. Countries have moved ahead and given the vaccine emergency use authorisation within their countries so that the vaccine can be given to the population,” he reassured. (G12)
