Three more persons died on Thursday as a result of COVID-19, bringing Guyana’s death toll to 51.
They are 32-year-old Paul Lowe of Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD); 66-year-old Monyra Moses of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara ECD);, and 65-year-old Alfred Gonsalves of Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that Lowe was admitted on August 20, and was tested the same day. His results came back the following day as positive.
He had since been receiving treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital; however, his condition worsened in recent days and on Wednesday, he was intubated. Lowe died on Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Moses was admitted on August 29, and was swabbed on the same day. His results came back on September 2. He too died in the COVID-19 ICU on Thursday morning.
Also, on Thursday, the Health Ministry announced the death of 65-year-old Gonsalves. He died some time before 13:00h while receiving care in the COVID-19 ICU as well.
This publication was told that Gonsalves had been bed-ridden for seven years. He was admitted on August 31 and swabbed the following day. His results came back on September 5 as positive.
The Health Ministry has indicated that it has contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-dead persons.
Guyana recorded its 49th COVID death on Monday when an 84-year-old man from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) died around 23:00h while receiving medical care.
Over the past few weeks, Guyana has seen a spike in its COVID-19 death toll. In fact, the number of deaths in the month of August was 21 – nearly double the amount recorded since the country had its first death on March 11.
During a press conference last week, Health Minister Anthony had explained that the increased number of COVID-related deaths could be attributed to the fact most of the victims who died had underlying health conditions for which they were admitted. He noted that many of these persons did not know they had the life-threatening disease until they were tested and their results came back positive.
“Many of those patients who have died had comorbidities, which is they had varying diseases,” the Minister noted.
Moreover, Director of Medical and Professional Services (DMPS) at the Georgetown Public Hospital, which houses the country’s lone COVID-19 ICU, Dr Fawcett Jeffrey, told reporters on Tuesday that the spike in COVID fatalities were not as a result of shortages of medical equipment or protective gear in the designated ICU.
As the virus progresses, more information has been surfacing about its nature, which has established a link between comorbidity and the death rate. The Health Ministry had previously cautioned persons with pre-existing conditions that they were more at risk of contracting COVID-19.
“When you have COVID-19 and comorbidities, then this can lead to your demise. I don’t think there is a limitation of resources for my doctors who are working in the COVID-19 ICU that has actually caused the demise of the patients. It’s just the natural history of COVID-19 patients that are severely ill and have comorbidities that has caused the number of deaths,” Dr Jeffrey informed.
The DMPS further noted that a team has been established to review deaths from the virus to produce answers, as well as to improve treatment for new patients. It was also found that very young patients who succumbed to the virus also had underlying conditions.
“So far, in the reviews of the patients that we have had, there is nothing specific that we can say was a deficiency, that led to the demise of the patient. Even though internationally it was said that the elderly are the more affected age group; in Guyana, we had quite a young age group of persons that tended to succumb, but all of them had some comorbid condition,” he explained.
Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which are in effect until September 30, 2020.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry’s website at www.health.gov.gy