Guyana records 85 new COVID cases in 24h

…vaccination for children aged 5-11 starts today

The Health Ministry on Friday announced that another 85 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 thus taking the total number of positives to 65,799 since the virus was first detected in March 2020.
New statistics showed that the death toll remains at 1239 while two persons are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 33 persons are in institutional isolation, 977 in home isolation and one in institutional quarantine.
Additionally, 63,548 persons have recovered while 643,326 tests have been processed to date.
An analysis of the new cases show that one was detected in Region One (Barima-Waini); 11 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); five in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 52 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); five in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) did not report any increases in positives.
However, vaccination for the five to 11 age group will commence today at the National Cultural Centre tarmac. Due to limited supplies, parents are asked to take their children at the earliest to benefit from the vaccine.
“We don’t have a lot. We have limited supplies. We have 52,800 doses, which means we will be able to do 26,400 children. So, those who are interested, we urge them to come out,” Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony related on Friday.
COVID-19 vaccines for this age cohort have been difficult to obtain but Guyana has managed to source some of the vaccines through a donation from the Government of Spain.
“We have worked very hard to be able to procure these vaccines and to bring them into Guyana. They’re not easily available so many countries still don’t have access to them. However, the vaccines have been widely used in North America and Europe and they have been found to be quite effective.”
Coronavirus vaccines have been proven to prevent children from developing a more severe form of the disease should they contract it. In Guyana, children have died from the virus.
Minister Anthony contended, “This is preventable once we can vaccinate. Therefore, we really urge parents to ensure that they get their children vaccinated”.
Vaccination statistics remain relatively the same this week. Statistics as of Thursday point to 442,814 adult first doses or 86.3 per cent; with 342,486 second doses or 66.8 per cent. In the 12 to 17 group, only 34,768 first doses or 47.7 per cent coverage has been achieved.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
Global figures show that 533 million people have tested positive for the virus and 632 million have died. In the Americas, more than 158 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths.