Guyana’s COVID-19 tests figure unchanged in 24 hours

…despite PAHO’s call to step up testing
…Georgetown ID’d as epicentre, Guyana’s death rate stands at 10.4%

In its latest update on the COVID-19 situation in Guyana, the Public Health Ministry’s figures show that there has been no new COVID-19 test recorded compared to the previous day.
According to that Ministry’s daily update dashboard on Wednesday, the total number of persons tested in Guyana for the novel coronavirus to date stands at 348, of which 67 were positive and the remaining 281 were negative; the same figures were given on Tuesday.
On Monday, the number of tests conducted was 328. Only last week, Guyana recorded 18 new cases.

PAHO call
Meanwhile, this situation of no new tests comes even as the Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa F. Etienne, calls for accelerated and expanded testing for COVID-19 in countries of the Americas.
During a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Etienne said there is need for a clearer view of where the virus is circulating and how many people have been infected, in order to guide actions.
“The pandemic continues to impact our region, and it’s vital for all countries to actively embrace preventive measures while preparing for more cases, hospitalisations and deaths,” she noted.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Wednesday that there were 925,291 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 44,775 deaths in the region of the Americas.
According to the PAHO Director, countries in the region have been prepared to test and detect cases of COVID-19 since before the pandemic was declared.
Since February, PAHO had trained and equipped laboratories for PCR testing in more than 30 countries, but she noted that as cases have increased, countries have found it increasingly difficult to keep up.
To this end, Dr. Etienne highlighted PAHO’s recommendations for countries: to expand their capacity and use all available national laboratories; to prioritise patients with symptoms, tracing contacts and following up with those that may be infected; and to ensure access for all, so testing would be free of charge for patients.
PAHO has said it has provided more than 500,000 PCR tests to 34 countries and territories, and has worked with other countries to track and support their capacity.
An additional 1.5 million PCR tests are being dispatched throughout the Region this week, “followed by another 3 million next week, to strengthen laboratory surveillance networks in our member states,” the Director highlighted.
To date, Guyana has received 1,800 testing kits from PAHO, and Country Representative Dr William Adu-Krow disclosed last week that an additional 7,000 more are expected.
He told reporters during a virtual press briefing that PAHO would continue to support the Public Health Ministry’s response to COVID-19 by providing the necessary supplies to conduct testing, in order to ensure that everyone who needs to be tested is tested.
The Public Health Ministry is now expanding its testing capacity by allowing private hospitals to conduct tests as they follow the necessary guidelines, and Dr Adu-Krow noted that PAHO is also willing to assist in training private laboratory professionals so that the quality of tests conducted and results delivered can be the same quality as those from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.

Georgetown epicenter
Meanwhile, during her daily update on Wednesday, caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence disclosed that, like the number of positive cases, 63 of which were locally transmitted, the number of deaths in Guyana remains unchanged at seven.
As Guyana’s confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to climb, Lawrence pointed out that the Georgetown capital has been identified as the epicenter.
“I am sure that you are noting the steady increase in our COVID-19 confirmed cases, as well as the number of persons who have died as a result of the coronavirus disease. I cannot emphasise enough that your daily behaviour is the key to whether we can flatten the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our country, or we allow the pattern to continue,” she asserted.
She added that there is a perception that because only 67 persons have tested positive out of 328 tests done, Guyana is not in a critical situation. “We beg to differ, because 7 deaths out of 67 cases represent 10.4%, which is much higher than the death rate of COVID-19 presented by WHO, (which) stands at 2-4%. I urge you to stop taking matters in your own hands, COVID-19 is serious business; please call the COVID-19 hotline or utilize the App.”
Additionally, 17 persons are still in institutional quarantine, while 50 others are in isolation. However, of the three persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), one of them is in a critical condition.
On the other hand, one more victim of the deadly coronavirus has recovered, bringing the country’s total number of recovered cases to 10.

HIV persons vulnerable
During Wednesday’s update, Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr Rhonda Moore, disclosed that persons living with HIV are more at risk of contracting the coronavirus, and as such, she implored those persons to reduce their risk of being infected.
“If you are living with HIV and you are not on treatment or you are not virally suppressed (i.e. your HIV virus is under control and thus allowing your immune system now to fight other infections) you are at increased risk of developing the most severe form of this disease, which will require hospital stay and in most cases ICU care. And it is also very possible that you may die… The HIV virus, as you know, attacks your immune system, making it difficult for your body to fight off any infection, COVID-19 included,” she explained.
The NAPS Director went on to encourage persons to contact the COVID-19 hotline for any assistance, including support for balanced diets. She noted that the NAPS Food Bank is prepared to work with treatment sites to provide HIV-infected persons with hampers.