…29 new cases recorded
The Health Ministry has reported that another person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died. 
This now takes the total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic to 167.
The latest fatality is an 85-year-old man from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) who died on Tuesday while receiving care at a medical facility.
According to the Ministry, its officials have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-deceased man.
Guyana’s last COVID-19 deaths were recorded on Sunday when a 70-year-old from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and an 85-year-old from Region 10, died while receiving care at a medical facility.
New cases
Meanwhile, the Ministry also reported on Wednesday that 29 new COVID-19 cases have been detected.
According to the updated COVID-19 dashboard, the number of confirmed cases in the country has now gone up to 6436.
However, only 286 of these are active cases. These include four patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 282 in isolation, that is, 20 persons in institutional isolation and the other 262 in home isolation.
There are also 46 persons in institutional quarantine.
Additionally, the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening viral disease has increased to 5983 – 35 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.
Meanwhile, some 39,565 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana to date.
Of the 29 new cases detected on Wednesday, nine are from Region One (Barima-Waini), two from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), seven cases from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), five from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), three from East Berbice-Corentyne and another three from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The figures for the other four regions remained the same.
Since taking office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected. This has resulted in a high number of cases being detected.
Nevertheless, Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 13), which are in effect until January 31, 2021.
This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home, the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Wednesday, some 84,780,171 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 1,853,525 deaths.
WHO also reported on Wednesday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 37,188,572 while the death toll has gone up to 882,431.
