Elderly woman dies from COVID-19 at Region 1 home

…47 new cases detected

Guyana has recorded yet another COVID-19 fatality following the death of an elderly woman at her Region One (Barima-Waini) home.
This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic in the country to 103.
According to the Ministry of Health on Saturday, the 61-year-old woman died on Friday, October 9, 2020.
It was previously reported that Guyana recorded four COVID-19 deaths on Friday – the highest number within 24 hours. Over the past week, the coronavirus fatality increased by 14. The week began with the death toll at 89 cases.
Meanwhile, the Ministry also reported on Saturday that 47 new COVID-19 cases were detected, taking the total number of novel coronavirus cases here up to 3405 – 1811 males and 1594 females.
Of these, however, only 999 are active cases including 16 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 893 in isolation, that is, 110 in institutional isolation and the other 873 in home isolation.
According to the Health Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, there are also 55 persons currently in institutional quarantine.
Moreover, some 2304 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease to date.
Guyana has thus far tested 15,753 persons for the novel coronavirus.
A breakdown of the 47 new cases recorded on Saturday showed increased cases in all 10 administrative regions across the country.
This includes four cases in the Barima-Waini Region, one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), seven in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 25 cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one each in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), three in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one case in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.
Authorities have been pleading with and reminding Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 9) which are in effect until October 31, 2020. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of face masks when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Government has since launched “Operation COVI-CURB” – a countrywide campaign by the Joint Services and other key stakeholders, using an education and persuasion strategy, to elicit adherence to the COVID-19 safety measures.
According to Public Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, this initiative has been garnering positive feedback.
“We’re very pleased with the comments that we’re getting back. The police, the army, the CDC (Civil Defence Commission) and other volunteers have been out talking to people. So, we’re trying a softer approach of talking to people and distributing masks, giving out flyers and educating people,” the Minister said last week. (G8)