…32 infections reported in 24h
The Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported that the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guyana have moved up to 39,151 after 32 new infections were detected within a 24-hour period.
New statistics provided also showed that no new deaths were reported as figures remained at 1050. However, seven patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, 31 in institutional isolation, 598 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine.
Detections have been made possible after 419,615 tests were conducted. This has led to 18,466 males and 20,685 females testing positive.
New positives were spread across four administrative regions, with 24 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There were no new cases in the remaining regions.
However, vaccination numbers show that 410,181 first doses have been administered. This represents 80 per cent of the adult population. 293,601 or 57.2 per cent are completely vaccinated. In terms of the 12 to 17 age group, 30,214 young people or 41.4 per cent received their first doses and 21,527 got the second or 29.5 per cent. There is a gradual increase in booster shots with 10,708 persons taking the jabs.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has cautioned within recent weeks that a booster dose is essential in safeguarding against the newest COVID variant, Omicron.
In Tuesday’s briefing, he asserted, “Omicron is a very highly transmissible variant. Within weeks, it has become the dominant variant in many countries. It is spreading around the world and apart from in the countries becoming the dominant variant of circulation, eventually it will be the dominant variant circulating in the world. We really need to take precautions if we are going to avoid this”.
It was pointed out that countries that were able to control the pandemic temporarily are now seeing high cases of COVID, especially among the unvaccinated. This is overwhelming the health systems.
“While a lot of people think that Omicron is a milder form of the disease, for the unvaccinated, people are still getting sick and they’re going into the hospital. If you get large amounts of cases, in some countries, they don’t have the hospital capabilities to manage these patients. If you don’t have the capability, unfortunately the patients would not get the best attention and some of them would die. We can avoid that. We have tried to build capacity but our capacity is not infinite. It is limited and therefore, if we really get lots of cases and people are irresponsible during this period, then we can anticipate that we are going to get lots of cases.”
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 24), which are in effect until December 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for everyone, 12 years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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
