…death toll now 941
Two persons in their 20s are among eight new COVID-19 deaths that were recorded over the past few days. This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic in Guyana to 941. 
These latest fatalities are a 28-year-old male from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), who died on Saturday; a 29-year-old female from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who died on Friday; a 46-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died on Saturday; a 51-year-old female also from Region Six, who died on Thursday; a 58-year-old female from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who died on Thursday; a 63-year-old female also from Region Five, who died on Friday; a 67-year-old male from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) who died on Wednesday; and a 90-year-old male from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), who also died on Thursday.
With the exception of the 29-year-old woman, who had been fully vaccinated, the other seven persons were all unvaccinated.
According to the Ministry of Health, these patients were admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms, and died while receiving care at medical institutions across the country. Samples were taken at the time of their admission, which subsequently returned positive tests.
Meanwhile, some 86 more persons have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a 24-hour period. The total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 36,079. Of this, however, only 2,546 are currently active cases. This include 10 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 2,536 persons in isolation; that is, 64 in institutional isolation and the other 2,472 in home isolation.
There are also 11 more persons in institutional quarantine.
So far, some 32,592 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus – 51 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.
Moreover, 361,782 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus thus far, and of these, 17,049 males and 19,030 females were found to be positive.
Of the 86 new cases detected on Saturday, one was from Region One (Barima-Waini), three were from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), six were from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), a whopping 37 were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 13 were from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 12 were from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), there were two cases each from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and the remaining 10 cases were from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There was no new case recorded in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Saturday.
The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February, and continues to roll it out across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections.
So far, over 380,000 persons of the adult population have received their first dose of the vaccine, and more than 242,000 persons who are 18 years and older are fully immunised.
As it relates to adolescents, over 27,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been administered first doses, of which more than 18,000 are fully vaccinated.
Persons are encouraged to get immunized, since the COVID-19 vaccine provides a layer of protection against severe symptoms of COVID-19.
Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitising.
The measures also include vaccination requirements to access any public building, such as a restaurant, a place of worship, a school, or a Government building.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as at Saturday, November 6, some 248,467,363 confirmed cases were reported globally, along with 5,027,183 deaths.
The WHO also reported on Sunday that, in the Region of the Americas – that is, Latin America and the Caribbean – the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 94,077,975, while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,301,996. (G8)
