COVID death toll climbs to 553 with 2 more fatalities

− digitalizing of the COVID-19 vaccine cards on the table

The COVID-19 death toll has now climbed to 553 as of Thursday, with the announcement of the death of two other women.
The latest fatalities are a 56-year-old and a 62-year-old female from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – both of whom died while seeking treatment at a medical facility.
However, new statistics provided by the ministry showed that 84 new cases were detected in one day which now bring the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 22,789 – 11,090 males and 11,699 females.
There are 13 patients in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 661 in home isolation, 89 in institutional isolation and three in institutional quarantine. The data shows that 21,473 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus while 231,121 have been tested.
New cases were detected across Regions One (Barima-Waini), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Nine (Upper Essequibo- Upper Takutu) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) saw no increases.
Given the bugbear of physically carrying the COVID-19 vaccination card to access services and conduct business in Guyana, the Health Ministry is working to possibly implement an electronic version.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday stated that the digitalizing of the COVID-19 vaccine cards will take some time. It is an initiative government is considering to make it easier for persons to prove that they are vaccinated, rather than physically carrying their immunization card.
“One of the things that we have been contemplating is maybe to create an electronic version of the card but that’s going to take some time. We have been discussing it and we’ll see if that’s possible because it would entail a lot of things. Because one, a person who already received their card, how do we then get this new card to them and whole host of logistical issues would come up. But it is something that we’re thinking about to make the card more portable,” he suggested.
In the meantime, persons have been cautioned to have their card in possession at all times when conducting business or in public.
“They key to the card is really to identify that that’s the person also to verify if the person would have received the vaccination. How the card is made up, it is folded so I think it would be difficult to laminate it to show all the pertinent information. So, my advice would be that they walk with their card and they find ways and means of protecting it.”
The Indian Government has consented to give Guyana a customized version of its CoWIN software, which is a web portal used COVID-19 vaccination registration. Authorities are working to have the database available in the near future.
“We’re still working to get that system. It called CoWIN. That’s the software India is using and they have consented to give us a customized version of that software for our use. So we’re continuing those discussions and as soon as we finalize it, we will then be able to move our database into that software and it has a lot of ease of functions to allow quick search and a whole host of features,” he added.
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasises: the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.