COVID cases continue to rise with 52 new infections

…adolescent herd immunity only at 34.7%

In two days, Guyana has seen over 100 new COVID cases surfacing, marking a significant spike within months.
The 52 infections were detected on Thursday, and confirmed warnings from authorities regarding the probability of another hike among the population. New statistics released by the Health Ministry showed 63,736 confirmed cases to date while deaths remain at 1228.
New cases were dispersed across six administrative regions as follows: one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 10 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 34 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There are four persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), six in institutional isolation, 238 in home isolation, and three in institutional quarantine.
Thus far, 62,260 infected individuals have recovered completely, while 608,164 tests have been processed for the virus.
Earlier this week, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony urged the public to upkeep measures to keep themselves safe, in light of many discarding the guidelines. He had warned that such actions could result in increased cases.
Moreover, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, considered highly transmissible, have already been circulating in numerous countries. Research shows that the strains have evolved to evade vaccines and immunity from previous infections.

Immunisation
Herd immunity for the adolescent population in Guyana, as it relates to COVID vaccination uptake, is only at 34.7 per cent.
The Health Ministry’s statistics show that 34,608 persons, or 47.5 per cent of this cohort, have taken a first dose, but only 25,329 persons, or 34.7 per cent of this cohort, have returned for their second jab – figures that are significantly low, and have remained stagnant in recent times.
For adults, herd immunity is 66.4 per cent after 340,470 persons took both doses. In total, 440,992 persons, or 86 per cent, received their first shot. Meanwhile, 63,477 booster doses have been administered.
Herd immunity, according to the World Health Organization, is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through infection.
WHO has said it supports achieving ‘herd immunity’ through vaccination, not by allowing disease to spread through any segment of the population, as this can ultimately result in unnecessary cases and deaths. It is urging more countries to push for 70 per cent herd immunity as soon as possible.
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 Hotlines: 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately, or visit www.health.gov.gy.
Global figures show that almost 516.9 million people have tested positive for the virus, and 6.2 million have died. In the Americas, more than 154.2 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths.