After continuous testing within the last two days, the Public Health Ministry on Thursday announced that no new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been detected.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon Boyle
During the daily COVID-19 briefing, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle stated that the number of confirmed cases of the deadly virus in the country remains at 113 – the same figure that was reported since Monday.
An additional 32 persons were tested on Wednesday – all of whom returned negative results. To date, the Ministry has tested a total of 1050 persons, with 939 of them being negative.
Though the COVID-19 deaths remain at 10, the number of persons who have recovered from the deadly virus has increased by one, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 42 as opposed to 41 on Wednesday.
Dr Gordon-Boyle added that there were currently five persons in institutional quarantine and 61 in institutional isolation. The COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital now has three patients.
“We must reiterate that there is no approved treatment for COVID-19 (by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)); however, clinical trials are being done at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where the most severe cases are being treated,” she highlighted.
Nevertheless, Dr Gordon-Boyle shared that the transmission of this virus could only be reduced or stopped if authorities were able to separate those who tested positive from those who were not infected.
In encouraging persons to come forward and get tested, the DCMO assured that the Government’s quarantine and isolation facilities are comfortable.
“I am sure that some of you have fears about quarantining and isolation, but be assured that MoPH [Ministry of Public Health] has set up these facilities bearing in mind that you are away from home and so is trying to make you feel as comfortable as possible,” Dr Gordon-Boyle explained.
According to the DCMO, the quarantine facilities are free of cost and provide each patient with three square meals per day which are prepared by a certified cook. A doctor and team are always on hand to care and monitor each patient twice daily, as well as conduct testing to determine if a patient suffers from underlying medical conditions.
At these facilities, there are games, free internet connection, television and telephone to call family and friends. Given that persons entering these facilities will have to adapt to a new lifestyle to protect themselves and others, the Ministry stated that psychosocial support sessions are also being done with patients.
The Ministry is said to be partnering with two hotels to ensure that each patient has their own private space with amenities. With regard to isolation facilities, the conditions are the same, but if you are in critical condition and require ICU, you are not allowed to leave.
To this end, it was announced that mobile testing units will be in La Parfait Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) and in South Ruimveldt over the weekend and the upcoming week. Additionally, residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) along with Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) will have similar facilities including mobile testing.
According to WHO, there are 4, 258, 666 confirmed cases globally with 294, 190 deaths of May 14. In the Region of the Americas, the number of cases is 1,819,55 with more than 106,504 deaths.
