…12 new infections recorded, 10 in ICU
The total number of active novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Guyana dropped to 650 on Sunday.
This is after only 12 new infections were reported within 24 hours, according to Sunday’s updated COVID-19 dashboard.
Consequently, confirmed cases in the country is now at 62,903.
Of the active cases, 10 are patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining persons in isolation, that is, 31 in institutional isolation and the other 609 in home isolation.
There are also 12 more persons in institutional quarantine.
The Health Ministry did not report any new fatalities on Sunday hence the COVID-19 death toll remains at 1220.
So far, some 61,033 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 104 new recoveries when compared to the figure reported the previous day.
Meanwhile, since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana, a total 539,009 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this, some 28,958 males and 33,945 females were found to be positive.
Of the 12 cases recorded on Sunday, one each was from Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), while six of these cases were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), another two from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and the remaining one more case from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
There were no new cases detected in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) within the 24-hour period.
This apparent decline in COVID-19 cases comes on the heels of widespread surges in infections late December up until recent weeks. Those increases were attributed to the Omicron variant, which though not deadly is highly transmissible.
Nevertheless, health authorities continue to urge persons to get vaccinated, and for those who are qualified to get their booster shots, in order to add a layer of protection against the virus.
Latest figures show that so far, over 431,590 adults or 84.1 per cent have taken a first dose and of that amount, some 326,860 or 63.7 per cent 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.
For the adolescent age group, more than 24,130 or 33.1 per cent are fully vaccinated. Additionally, in excess of 49,742 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.
However, 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 – which are more significant now with the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recent figures, some 430,257,564 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 5,922,049 deaths.
In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 146,449,865 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,618,433.
As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, WHO also reported that a total of 10,407,359,583 doses have been administered worldwide. (G8)
