Guyana records 4 more COVID-19 deaths, 88 new cases in 24h

– “Operation COVI-CURB” in full effect

The Health Ministry on Sunday reported that four more persons have died from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, thus taking the country’s death toll to a whopping 90.

The first death of the four was recorded sometime before 19:30h on Saturday, when a 68-year-old male from Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) died while receiving care at a medical facility.
Meanwhile, the two other persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus died on Sunday.

Both of those latest fatalities are from Region One (Barima-Waini). They are two 56-year-old males – one from Baramita and the other from Port Kaituma – who died while receiving care at a medical facility. The samples were taken from both men on admission and their results came back subsequently as positive.
The 90th COVID-19 death was recorded on Sunday night when a 53-year-old male from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) died while receiving care at a medical facility.
Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons from the four fatalities to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-dead persons.
Only Saturday, the country recorded its last COVID-19 death when a 74-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died, also while receiving care at a medical facility.
The country would have recorded 12 deaths from the novel coronavirus over the past week. The week began with the COVID death toll at 78.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Sunday also reported that an additional 88 persons have contracted the virus, thus taking the country’s total number of cases to 3093. This includes 1651 males and 1442 females.
Of these, however, only 1087 are active cases. These include 15 patients currently in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the other 1072 in isolation, that is, 152 in institutional isolation and the remaining 920 in home isolation.
In addition, there are 65 persons in institutional quarantine. To date, some 1920 persons in Guyana have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 13 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.
Guyana has tested 14,815 persons thus far for the novel coronavirus.
A breakdown of the 88 new cases recorded on Wednesday shows that 16 were detected in the Barima-Waini Region, seven in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 59 cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), four in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region, and one each in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The other regional figures remain the same, with 37 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 18 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 46 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and 355 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positives cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.
Meanwhile, 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.
In fact, there has been a country-wide campaign by the Joint Services and other key stakeholders, using an education and persuasion strategy, to elicit adherence to the COVID-19 safety measures.
Against this backdrop, senior officers and ranks from the Guyana Defence Force on Sunday afternoon interacted with young football and cricket players as part of its “Operation COVI-CURB”.
Footballers at the Georgetown Football Club and cricketers at D’Urban Park were told of the importance of following the COVID-19 measures.
The army ranks also distributed masks to everyone who needed.
On completion of the exercise, Vice-Captain of Eccles All-Stars, Irfaan Alli commended the initiative and gave a thumbs-up to the ranks and the Government.
“We need more of this to be done. Giving out masks seem simple, but it’s a great help,” one gentleman told the Department of Public Information (DPI), while urging that the exercise be replicated in as many communities as possible.
After wrapping up at D’Urban Park, the army personnel visited Tiger Bay where they distributed hampers of sanitisers and cleaning agents and masks to families and vendors plying their trade.
Coast Guard Lieutenant, Shennel Europe told DPI the exercise was part of the Government’s softer strategy to educate and interact with persons about the disease and reinforce the importance of taking personal responsibility to help stem its transmission.
Sunday’s activity follows closely on the heels of several similar exercises undertaken in communities across the country since the launch of “Operation COVI-CURB” on Thursday. The Joint Services interactions with the public on curbing the spread of COVID-19 are expected to continue for one month.