…839 active cases being monitored
A 76-year-old unvaccinated woman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is the latest person to die from the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced on Saturday. 
According to the Ministry, the woman succumbed on December 10, after testing positive for the virus. This brings the country’s death toll to 1017.
The latest dashboard released on Saturday showed 39 new infections, taking the total confirmed cases since March 2020 to 38,492. A total of 18,149 males and 20,343 females have tested positive for the virus since it was first detected here in March 2020.
Some 839 active cases are being monitored: 16 in the Intensive Care Unit, 44 in institutional isolation, and 779 on home isolation. Another eight persons are in institutional quarantine.
Meanwhile, 36,636 persons have completely recovered from the virus. Guyana has conducted 403,972 tests for COVID.
A breakdown of new infections shows that one has been detected in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), seven in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 19 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and nine in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
There were no increases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
For vaccination, over 435,000 first doses have been administered across the country, accounting for about 56.3 per cent of the population. Overall, second dose coverage has crossed 39.5 per cent. Guyana has initiated a multifaceted approach to sourcing vaccines, whether through state purchases, the COVAX mechanism, donors or bilateral arrangements.
It has been emphasised that the country has enough vaccines to immunise the population. Thus far, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca; and Johnson and Johnson vaccines have been used in the countrywide immunisation programme.
This week, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony cautioned that the gap between first and second doses in the COVID-19 vaccination needs to be bridged, as it could leave many persons vulnerable.
“From the numbers we have seen, there is that gap between first and second doses, and we want to close that gap by encouraging more people to get their second dose vaccination. If we don’t close that gap, then people would remain vulnerable, because they wouldn’t get the full benefits of the vaccine,” he was quoted as saying in a recent COVID update.
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES (NO.24), which are in effect until December 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for everyone 12 years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480, or 624-6674 immediately, or visit us at www.health.gov.gy
Globally, there have been over 267 million confirmed cases, with over 5.2 million deaths. In the Americas, cases near 100 million, while deaths have surpassed 2.3 million. (G12)
