Unvaccinated woman dies from COVID, 44 new positives

…hospitalised maternity cases reduce to zero

A 69-year-old woman is the latest person to succumb to the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), moving the country’s total death toll to 1009.
The Health Ministry informed on Tuesday that the person, who hailed from Region 10, died on November 28. She was unvaccinated and died while seeking medical attention at one of the designated facilities.
Nevertheless, there was an increase of 44 more cases detected within the course of one day – raising the total confirmed positives to 38,261.
New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 16 patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 50 in institutional isolation, 867 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine. Throughout the pandemic, 399,460 COVID tests have been conducted in which 18,033 males and 20,228 females were positive. There have been 36,319 recoveries.
The regional breakdown of new cases showed two persons testing positive in Region One (Barima-Waini); two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); five in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); five in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); four in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
No new cases were reported in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
There are 53 patients in hospitals across the country – of which 42 are at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Maternal cases in hospitals have been reduced to zero.
The specialised theatre for pregnant women at the facility has since been operationalised while those treated at public hospitals are tested for COVID.
Meanwhile, vaccination numbers show that 404,122 persons or 78.8 per cent of the adult population took a first dose while 283,505 or 55.3 per cent have taken the second doses. However, for the children category, the numbers are low.
This has resulted in Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony appealing to parents and other stakeholders to ensure that children are vaccinated against the novel virus.
“The first dose is still lagging behind at 40.5 per cent and second dose is at 28.4 per cent. We really need to do a lot of work here. Parents, teachers, other influential people in the community need to help us to talk to young people in these communities to make sure that they get vaccinated and so that we can protect persons within this age group,” he relayed.
Statistics show that Region 10 still has the lowest vaccine uptake. Second dose coverage is 45.7 per cent in Region One, 44.1 per cent in Region Two, 53.4 per cent in Region Three, 63.2 per cent in Region Four, 56 per cent in Region Five, 53.4 per cent in Region Six, 54.5 per cent in Region Seven, 38.3 per cent in Region Eight, 55.7 per cent in Region Nine and 27 per cent in Region 10.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise 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.