After recording a whopping 10 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and another one on Tuesday, the Public Health Ministry on Wednesday reported that no new cases have been confirmed.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud
This was revealed by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Ministry, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who delivered the daily update on Wednesday during which he noted that the number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Guyana remains at 93 – the same number as Tuesday.
However, he did note that 34 more persons have been tested for the deadly virus. This brings the total number of COVID-19 tests done in Guyana to 714, of which 621 were negative.
According to Dr Persaud, to date, 27 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease. Guyana’s COVID-19 deaths also remain at 10 following the latest fatality on Tuesday.
The CMO further noted that six persons remain in institutional quarantine while another 56 are in isolation.
Persons in Rasville, Georgetown, on Tuesday despite restrictions on social gatherings such as ‘road limes’
He added that there were still three persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital. That dedicated ICU has seen 29 COVID-19 patients to date. Of these, Dr Persaud disclosed, seven have died while 13 of the patients were transferred from the ICU. A total of three persons who were in the COVID-19 ICU have since recovered and were discharged.
Disregard for restrictions
Meanwhile, the CMO went on to explain that Georgetown continued to be the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana with majority of the victims being males, since they were the main ones not adhering to the guidelines and restrictions put in place to contain the disease and flatten the curve.
“[They are] congregating way past the curfew hours as if it were a prolonged holiday. Have you stopped to think of the unnecessary risk that you are exposing your children, your wife/significant other, your mother or grandmother to? Yes, you are exposing your entire family. As one male to another, I am pleading with you to do the practicable thing, which is to stay home and to be off the roadways. Do not think for one moment that you are invincible and that the virus cannot affect you, because your area has not been identified as a COVID-19 hotspot,” he posited.
According to Dr Persaud, everyone is at risk of contracting the disease and the only way to stop the numbers from increasing and persons from dying is if persons seriously follow all the advice and guidelines implemented. He added that if persons have to leave home, it is a must that they wear face masks and keep six feet of physical distance between themselves and others when in public.
Moreover, he further pleaded with persons to step forward if they have been in contact with a positive case or experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19. He warned that seeking medical help at an advanced stage of the disease would place those persons at a disadvantage and there may be very little that could be done at that point to save their lives.
Another issue the CMO lamented was the lack of cooperation in the Ministry’s contact tracing efforts.
“We understand the fear of being isolated or hospitalised, the stigma and discrimination, but we cannot contain this disease unless we receive accurate information. My fellow Guyanese, it is imperative that we find those persons in our communities ASAP, who can spread COVID-19 without even realising it,” he implored.
In addition, Dr Persaud is urging persons to make use of the mobile COVID testing units whenever they go into their communities.
“We must test your contacts and the contacts of their contacts; we must conduct tests in our hotspot areas to uncover the symptomatic and asymptomatic persons. Testing is critical if we are to contain this disease and flatten the curve,” he explained.
Against this background, the CMO highlighted the fact the laboratory staff were working continuously to have testing done. Recognising that persons were anxious to receive the daily results at a specific time, he remained that testing for COVID-19 was a complex process that took at least six to eight hours to complete. He added that it was the Ministry’s responsibility to the public to ensure that the results were accurate and as such, patience was required on this matter.
Dr Persaud further reminded the public of the important role they have to play to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“COVID-19 is no respecter of persons; no one will be spared once you are in its path. It is not a Ministry of Public Health’s affair, but one that concerns every one of us. So be appreciative of the herculean efforts of our frontline workers who are putting themselves at risk to protect you and me. We can beat this virus if all join forces and work with one focus and one accord,” he asserted.
In addition to urging persons to take protective measures when venturing out in public, the Ministry has already warned that patients with existing health conditions such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension were more at risk of contracting the deadly virus.
