…77 new cases recorded
Three more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Guyana have died, according to the Health Ministry on Wednesday. 
Among the latest fatalities were an 80-year-old female from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who was unvaccinated and an 86-year-old male from Region One (Barima-Waini), whose vaccination status is unknown. The other person was a 59-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who was fully vaccinated. All three persons died on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. 
This now takes the total number of deaths in Guyana from the virus to 997. The COVID-19 death toll for the month of November has gone up to 70.
New cases
Meanwhile, another 77 persons have contracted the deadly virus, taking the total number of active cases in Guyana to 1236. This number includes 17 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 1219 persons in isolation – 57 in home isolation and 1162 in institutional isolation.
Additionally, there are currently two persons in institutional quarantine, according to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 37, 951 – 17, 877 males and 20, 074 females.
To date, some 35,718 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus – 67 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.
Moreover, a total of 392,287 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus thus far in Guyana.
Of the 77 new cases detected on Wednesday, 12 were from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 30 cases were from Demerara-Mahaica, six from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 21 cases from East Berbice-Corentyne; two cases each from Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and the remaining four cases from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
No new cases were recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Wednesday.
The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February and continues to roll it out across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections.
So far, some 401,445 persons or 78.3 per cent of the adult population have received a first coronavirus vaccine dose, and more than 279, 658 or 54.5 per cent of persons who are 18 years and older are fully vaccinated.
As it relates to adolescents, approximately 29,256 or 40.1 per cent of children between the ages of 12 and 17 are fully vaccinated, with some 20, 473 or 28.1 per cent having received both doses.
HIV patients
Meanwhile, during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony spent time addressing issues relating to HIV patients and COVID-19 in observance of World AIDS Day.
There are more than 9000 persons living with HIV in Guyana, but according to the Health Minister, uptake of the COVID vaccine among this group has been low.
“This has been a challenge… I think there is a myth within the HIV community that they shouldn’t be vaccinated and unfortunately, we have to work to dispel that myth, because like with everybody else, if you have an underlying illness then you should get immunised against COVID,” he stressed.
Dr Anthony disclosed that the Ministry has had several programmes specifically to address this situation and has even funded a number of informational sessions through the Global Fund with key population groups like MSM, sex workers, and transgenders.
“But the uptake is still not where it should be and hopefully, with these sessions and with continuing them, that we will get more people getting vaccinated. So, if there is one thing I wanna encourage persons on this day – persons who are HIV-positive – is to really reconsider their posture on vaccination and go out and get vaccinated; and if you’ve had both doses, that they should seriously consider getting their booster dose,” the Minister pleaded.
Further explaining that globally the COVID jabs have been proven to be protective for persons living with HIV, Dr Anthony also dispelled misconceptions that the vaccine would interfere with the efficacy of the HIV medications.
“The mechanisms of how vaccines work and how the meds work are quite different,” he clarified.
As such, persons are encouraged to get immunised since the COVID-19 vaccine provides a layer of protection against severe symptoms.
As 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.
The measures also include vaccination requirements to access any public building such as restaurants, places of worship, schools as well as Government buildings. (G8)
