COVID-19 death toll now stands at 499 after 2 more die

– 53 new cases recorded in 24 hours

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has reached 499 after two more persons who tested positive for the virus died.
The Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that a 50-year-old woman and 79-year-old man, both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died on Monday. At the time of their demise, they were seeking treatment at a medical facility. This has brought July’s death toll up to 23.
However, new statistics provided by the Ministry show that the positive cases have reached 21,055 – 10,285 males and 10,770 females. This is after 53 more persons tested positive for the virus within one day.
The stats showed that 10 persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 77 are in institutional isolation, 1209 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine. The country has seen 19,260 recoveries. Since the pandemic started, 203,592 persons were swabbed for the coronavirus.
Of the new cases reported, three were from Region One (Barima-Waini); one from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 11 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 12 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 22 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Cases in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) did not increase.
On Tuesday, it was pointed out that there is an increased uptake in vaccines across the country, moving Guyana closer to herd immunity. Some 239,877 persons or 49.3 per cent have taken their first jabs and 120,914 or 24.8 per cent are immunised.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said the availability of Sputnik V first and second doses in the country should encourage people to turn up to vaccination sites. Calculation shows that persons who would have taken the AstraZeneca vaccines are also due for the second jab.
“There’s a noticeable increase in the number of persons coming to our vaccination sites and I’m happy for that. I guess many persons were awaiting their second dose Sputnik V. We just want to remind people that we want to give those whose second dose is due to get their vaccines first, which means persons who would have received their second dose Sputnik in April are now going to be due for their second dose,” he outlined.
Along with purchased Sputnik V doses, it was revealed that the COVAX facility will be sending additional vaccines between this month and September. The Johnson and Johnson shots, purchased through the Caricom-African Union agreement, is expected to arrive in August.
“Guyana is one of those AMC countries and COVAX has promised us that they’d be sending additional vaccines to Guyana sometime between now and September. We’re expecting another shipment of COVAX’s vaccine. We have also paid for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine and this is an arrangement we’ve had with the African Union. We were required to pay for these vaccines which we did and the latest information that we have is that they’d be able to ship the vaccines to us in August,” said the Minister.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.