Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Boyle on Tuesday confirmed that Guyana has recorded 113 cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after four tests returned positive results on Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Boyle
These results come at a time when health authorities have been battling to flatten the curve.
During the daily briefing, she informed that 56 tests were conducted in one day. The total number of persons tested to date is 986, with 873 results proving negative. Deaths from the virus number 10.
Nevertheless, six persons are still receiving treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), one in intubation and 67 in institutional isolation. From the confirmed cases, 39 have since recovered.
Dr Boyle pointed out that the country was yet to start flattening the curve, as new cases continue to surface every day.
“We must seriously think about reducing the transmission of this disease and containing the spread of the virus so that we all can return to normalcy. Isn’t this our ultimate goal? Therefore, we ask you not only to abide by the rules but those of you who have been in contact with positive cases, we ask you to come forward and provide information about your contacts as well so that you and your loved one can avoid the risk of contracting this disease and possibly losing your life,” she said.
However, the DCMO noted that once again that persons have been ignoring the established measures and lockdown guidelines.
“As the Ministry’s response efforts continue, your behaviour is not encouraging; you continue to flout control measures and to put all at risk. Instead of our curve beginning to flatten, we still see an upward trajectory in positive coronavirus cases.”
Region Seven cases
Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) also reported its first case, joining six other regions with positive cases. Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) recorded its first two cases on Monday.
When contacted, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Edward Sagala revealed that there were actually two cases coming from Region Seven. Dr Sagala said he did not have all the details, but from his understanding, two individuals, who were recently in Aranka, Region Seven tested positive in Georgetown.
As of now, he noted that authorities were in the process of doing contact tracing to determine if anyone else was exposed to the virus.
COVID-19 spreading
Meanwhile, commenting on the growing cases in Guyana, Boyle said: “This means that the coronavirus is slowly making its way across our entire country. But you know what, you can help arrest and put an end to the spread of this disease…I simply ask you: wash your hands; avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth; practise physical distancing and adhere to the curfew.”
Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Eight (Potaro- Siparuni) have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud had revealed one week ago that Georgetown continued to be the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana with the majority of the victims being males, since they were the ones in general not adhering to the guidelines and restrictions put in place to contain the disease.
He later declared that cases have been detected in Kitty, Sophia, Turkeyen, Liliendaal, Cummings Lodge, Alberttown, Bourda, Lamaha Park, South Ruimveldt and Thirst Park.
On the East Coast of Demerara, positive cases were reported in Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. And on the East Bank, positive cases were reported at Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded 4,006, 257 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 278, 892 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases is 1,702,451 with the number of deaths increasing to 101,874.
