Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases stand at 498

– as 21 new cases recorded in last 24 hours

The Ministry of Health has reported that another 21 new novel coronavirus cases were detected in the last 24 hours from some 1294 tests conducted in Guyana.
According to new statistics released by the Ministry on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana is now 8420 – 4358 males and 4061 females.
However, the country’s active cases continue to increase with the figure now at 498 – 17 more than what was reported on Saturday.
Of the current active cases, 10 persons remain in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 488 persons are in isolation, that is, 38 in institutional quarantine and the remaining 450 in home isolation.
There are also 11 persons in institutional quarantine.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 189, with the latest fatality recorded on Tuesday last when a 69-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died while receiving care at a medical facility.
Additionally, the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening virus has also gone up to 7733, that is, four more recoveries when compared to the previous day.
To date, some 60,094 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana.
Of the 21 new cases recorded on Sunday, one was detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 16 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica region, and the other four cases in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The figures in the other seven regions – Region One (Barima-Waini); Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – remained the same.
Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.
As the number of cases continues to increase in the country, Government two weeks ago rolled out the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines to frontline workers and persons with comorbidities to protect against the deadly virus. This batch of AstraZeneca vaccines was donated by the Government of Barbados and Guyana is awaiting the arrival of the jabs from the COVAX facility.
Nevertheless, health authorities are reminding all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 14), which are in effect until February 28, 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.
Meanwhile, the measures also stipulate a curfew from 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (04:00 am).
Restaurants and places of worship continue to operate at 40 per cent capacity.
Gyms are to operate at 50 per cent capacity while sporting events are only permitted with approval from the Health Minister.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 110,749,023 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 2,455,131 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 49,296,115 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 1,171,294.