The COVID-19 death toll in Guyana has risen to 14 – the second death recorded for this week.
Abdool Khan
On Thursday, 34-year-old Abdool Khan succumbed while being treated at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The businessman who hailed from Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was admitted over one week ago after testing positive for the virus. He was the father of a three-year-old child who tested positive along with several family members last week.
On Monday, Kevin Ridley of Albuoystown, Georgetown died after contracting the novel coronavirus. His death was announced on Wednesday.
It has been reported that the 42-year-old man was admitted to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit after complaining of shortness of breath. Prior to this, Guyana’s last COVID-19 death was recorded over a month ago, on May 30, when 78-year-old John Damon, a former resident of the Palms Geriatric Home, died at the designated ICU at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was the second resident of The Palms to die from COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Guyana also recorded two new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. According to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle, the total number of COVID-19 cases has increased to 250.
Within 24 hours, 34 new tests were conducted. There are 117 recoveries, with 120 active cases in isolation, 16 persons in institutional quarantine, and 2 persons in the COVID ICU.
The DCMO mentioned that many persons are still behaving as though they cannot contract the disease, even as cases continue to climb rapidly in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
“Some of you still believe that COVID-19 is a gimmick, that you cannot contract this disease, and that if you are infected, you can easily recover and move on with your life. That may be so, but remember the trauma that your body undergoes when COVID-19 strikes,” Dr Gordon-Boyle emphasized.
Previously in Wednesday’s update, she implored, “Guyanese, I want you to know that COVID-19 is real. Stop mamaguying. Please note also that the full effect of COVID-19 on the human body is not fully known; you can recover from the coronavirus disease, but may develop other conditions that you previously did not have, which can result in possible death.”
She said stakeholders will have to comply with the other agencies involved in the Ministry’s efforts to combat the virus. Presently, officials continue to plead with residents to practise proper sanitization measures and follow the guidelines.
To the repatriated Guyanese, she questioned, “I also wish to address our repatriating nationals, the terms of whose return includes an agreement to home quarantine for 7 days. Why, on your arrival in Guyana, do you then choose to disregard this, and to saunter out into the public, knowing that you can potentially be putting at risk the lives of those you love the most? Just a reminder: provide accurate information at the points of entry, (and) remain at home for the agreed period, so that the health officials can call and check with you.”
According to the World Health Organization, the total number of COVID-19 cases is 10,357,662, with 508055 deaths. Regionally, there are 5,218,590 cases, with 249,318 deaths.
Prior to this, Guyana’s last COVID-19 death was recorded over a month ago, on May 30, when 78-year-old John Damon, a former resident of the Palms Geriatric Home, died at the designated ICU at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was the second resident of The Palms to die from COVID-19.
