9 new COVID-19 cases recorded; 14 in ICU

As testing increases

Guyana has recorded nine new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1468.
This was reflected in the Health Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday as increased testing continues across the country. Of the 1468 cases, 721 are males and 747 are females.
However, only 468 of those cases are currently active. These include 14 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), located at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and 454 persons in isolation – 52 in institutional isolation and the other 402 in home isolation.
In addition, there are now 97 persons in institutional quarantine.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 46, while the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening virus has increased to 954 – 33 more than the figure reported the previous day.
Regarding the nine new cases recorded on Sunday, one is from Region One (Barima-Waini), two from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), three from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The number of cases remained the same in the other four regions.
To date, a total of 9403 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana – with 66 tests done in the 24 hours before Sunday’s update on the COVID-19 situation here.
As increased testing continues across the country, Guyana would have sent some 500 samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency to aid the country’s case backlog.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony told Guyana Times on Saturday that the Ministry began receiving those results as of Friday.
Through this initiative, the country has been able to reduce the backlog to under 1000, with plans to send more for processing in the new week.
“I am aware that some came back (Friday) but not all of it. I know they started receiving some of the results,” the Minister informed.
Meanwhile, as authorities continue to battle the novel coronavirus here, the country’s death toll continues to rise. Last week alone recorded 10 COVID-19-related deaths.
Dr Anthony pointed out during a virtual press conference last week that the increased deaths are primarily linked to underlying diseases. He stated that in many scenarios, these patients are initially admitted for another condition.
Nevertheless, it was noted that engagements were facilitated between several stakeholders, including the Russian Government, so as to ensure that Guyana benefits as soon as possible from the immunisation shots.
Authorities are in talks with many agencies to broaden the possibility of benefitting immediately.
“We want to make those calls so that we can benefit from it…It is not a commitment to buy. We want to understand the science behind it…I think it’s important that we engage early so we have many options to choose from,” the Minister assured.
Throughout the past week, several ventilators were installed at the COVID-19 ICU of the GPHC to boost their capacity.
Officials are also seeking to source other equipment to bolster the country’s fight against COVID-19.
It was one area where the Ministry was facing constraints, since only four of the 12 beds were equipped with such equipment. However, through recent donations from the Government of India, this challenge was overcome.