Cooperation with medical team needed to control Region 5 COVID-19 spike – Minister

…19 new cases recorded

With increased cases of COVID-19 emerging in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), the public and positive patients have been asked to comply with the guidelines and instructions set out by the Health Ministry.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said on Tuesday that they are seeking to strengthen presence in Moraikobai and New Amsterdam – areas which have reported spikes of the novel virus. A new team, comprising of a doctor, was sent into Moraikobai and will spend a few weeks in the community until the situation normalises. At New Amsterdam specifically, a number of persons were placed in home isolation.
“Hopefully, by having permanent presence with a different team, maybe we’ll get more people to comply. I’m sure once we get persons to work along with us, we’ll get a better picture of what is happening in the community…Those persons who have tested positive and are in home isolation, we’ll continue to monitor them and of course, if they are deteriorating in any sense, then we will be able to bring them out to our hospital,” he indicated.
For now, the major challenge facing authorities is the cooperation from members of the community. He said support from the populace is essential to identify those who are infected. There are also instances where persons are refusing to get tested.
“The challenge that we have is that when [we] talk to members of the community, support is pledged. But when the regional officials leave, somehow the community no longer work along with the medical team. We’re hoping that as we reach out to the persons who have influence in the community, that these types of attitudes will change. It’s important that we get that cooperation.”

New cases
For Tuesday, 19 new coronavirus cases were detected after 165 persons were tested.
The new statistics provided in the Health Ministry’s dashboard show that there are still 170 deaths – the latest of which was reported two Mondays ago.
In the facilities, six patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, 31 in institutional isolation, 70 in institutional quarantine and 537 in home isolation. Out of the 3560 males and 3390 females that tested positive, 6206 have recovered completely. To date, Guyana has tested 44,665 individuals.
Meanwhile, an analysis of new cases showed 14 being detected in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica), three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
There are still 982 confirmed cases in Region One (Barima-Waini), 219 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 496 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 228 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 404 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 533 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The Ministry has reminded the public of the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; maintaining the six feet physical distance from others and 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, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy. (G12)