The Ministry of Health announced that Guyana recorded its 139th COVID-19 related death as of Saturday, November 13, 2020. Additionally, 29 new cases of the potentially deadly virus have been recorded.
The 47-year-old woman from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) died while receiving treatment at one of the COVID-19 facilities. The Ministry has expressed its sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and promised to make every effort to provide all the necessary support to the family.
Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-deceased person. The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and her family, and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.
The Ministry in its daily statistics report said that there are currently nine persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. So far, there are 60 persons in institutional isolation and 838 in home isolation. On the other hand, there are 65 persons in institutional quarantine.
With respect to the 29 new cases, one was recorded in Region One; 10 in Region Four; three in Region Six; two in Region Eight and 13 in Region 10.
The Health Ministry continues to urge all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which will guarantee the safety of all.
Persons are asked to implement the consistent use of face masks when leaving their homes. Also, they are asked to pay keen attention to 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.
On Friday, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is expected to issue new guidelines for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Those new guidelines that PAHO would issue, we will certainly look forward to see them and see how we can incorporate them in our existing guidelines.”
The Health Minister further highlighted that in addition to the PAHO guidelines, Guyana has been looking at some of the principles of global scientific centres. He said local doctors receive articles from the foremost medical journals, such as The Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine.
“Our doctors have been receiving those articles, to ensure that our treatment protocols and other measures follow the latest science and guidelines. I think so far, we have been working very closely with what is happening in research and trying to implement that here,” Dr Anthony stated.
The Ministry has worked with PAHO and some consultants in Washington to host a webinar for local doctors. The webinar was based on guidelines that the World Health Organisation (WHO) issues pertaining to certifying and classifying COVID-19 deaths. Minister Anthony said the webinar should give local doctors a better understanding of how to certify those types of deaths.
Nevertheless, the Minister said Guyana will adopt the new guidelines where appropriate.
Meanwhile, persons displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or in need of any additional information are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
