Guyana records 74th COVID-19 death

…130 new cases reported

The Health Ministry on Friday confirmed another death from novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the death toll to 74.
The latest fatality is a 71-year-old woman from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), who died while seeking treatment. She was tested upon admission and the results returned positive. Since then, the Ministry has been making efforts to locate persons who were exposed to the now-deceased woman, to conduct contact tracing.
Authorities late Thursday evening confirmed that a 64-year-old man of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) succumbed to COVID-19, thus taking the death toll to 72.
Shortly after, there was another death. A 94-year-old female from Region One (Barima – Waini). She was pronounced dead upon arrival at a medical facility. A test sample was collected from the deceased and tested positive for COVID-19 subsequently.
On Wednesday, two persons succumbed to the novel coronavirus. They were a 70-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 66-year-old woman from Region One.
Previously on Tuesday, Guyana recorded its youngest fatality. The 25-year-old man was the country’s 69th COVID-19 death. Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance for everyone who may have been exposed to the now-dead persons.
The Ministry’s daily dashboard showed a whopping increase of 130 cases in 24 hours om Friday, raising the total of positive cases to date to 2706. A gender breakdown reveals that 1430 males and 1279 females were infected.
There are still 16 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 235 persons in institutional care, 895 in home isolation and 76 in institutional quarantine. A total of 1490 persons have made complete recoveries – an increase of seven.
Regionally, two new cases were detected in Region One; four in Region Two; 11 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 96 in Region Four; one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), seven in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); three in Region Eight; seven in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The Health Ministry continues to urge all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures (No 9), which are in effect until September 30, 2020. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of face masks when leaving home; the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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 (G12)