Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 deaths, 33 new cases

The Ministry of Health on Sunday reported that two more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 169.
These latest fatalities are two males: a 58-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 39-year-old from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The two persons died on Saturday while receiving care at a medical facility.
Guyana last recorded a COVID-19 death on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, when an 85-year-old male from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) died while receiving care at a medical facility.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also reported on Sunday that 33 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours from some 547 tests conducted.
According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 6574 – 3392 males and 3182 females.
Of the total, only 369 are currently active cases. This includes five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 364 persons in isolation, that is, 50 persons in institutional isolation and the other 314 in home isolation.
There are also 33 persons in institutional quarantine.
To date, some 6036 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus here, that is, 17 more recoveries than what was recorded the previous day.
Meanwhile, Guyana has tested some 41,601 persons for the novel coronavirus thus far.

Of the 33 new cases recorded on Sunday, one was detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), four in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 17 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica region, two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one each in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and five cases in the Upper Demerara-Berbice region.
The figures in the other two regions – Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Nine (Upper Essequibo- Upper Takutu) – remained the same.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 88,383,771 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 1,919,126 deaths.
WHO also reported on Sunday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 38,861,668 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 910,741.
Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic ones, are detected.
In recent months, there has been a decline in the number of active cases in the country but according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, in his recent COVID-19 update, this does not mean that the epidemic is over.
“When people see a drop in the numbers, people start getting complacent. We are by no means out of this pandemic because if we still have people who are active cases, we would still have spread. How much that would spread, how many more people will be infected – that’s something we can’t really predict at this time and therefore we have to remain cautious,” he posited.
Dr Anthony went on to to say that “while we’re working to bring down the numbers, we also have to get people to ensure that they are doing the right things. Numbers coming down does not mean that we have to relax our approach to this pandemic, and very often, I see this type of irresponsible behaviour because people feel that we’re doing well and we don’t have to worry.”
In fact, the Health Minister disclosed that they are expecting to see a spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, as well as hospitalisations this month since some people did not adhere to the guidelines during the recent Christmas holidays.
Nevertheless, Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency
Measures (No 13), which are in effect until January 31, 2021.
This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask 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.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.