…83 new cases reported, 20 in ICU
Four more persons, including an unvaccinated woman in her 30s who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), have died.
The 30-year-old woman, who hailed from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), died on November 16. The other three COVID fatalities are a 50-year-old male from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who also died on November 16; a 62-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who died on November 17; and a 67-year-old male, also from Region Four, who died since November 12.
With the exception of the 50-year-old male who was fully vaccinated, the other three persons were unvaccinated.
According to the Health Ministry on Wednesday, these patients were admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms, but died while receiving care at medical institutions across the country. Samples were taken at the time of their admission which subsequently returned positive tests.
These four fatalities have now taken the total number of deaths in Guyana from the pandemic to 965.
Meanwhile, another 83 persons have contracted the deadly virus, the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard on Wednesday detailed. With this, there are now 36,999 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
But only 2,064 of these are currently active cases. These include 20 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Ocean View Hospital and the remaining 2,044 persons in isolation; that is, 56 in institutional isolation and the remaining 1,988 persons in home isolation.
Most active cases
Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four, Six and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have accounted for most of these active cases.
Moreover, there are presently some 55 persons hospitalised across the country with COVID-19. Of these, 35 require oxygen.
While 20 patients are in the COVID ICU, the Ocean View Hospital has a total of 38 patients. In addition, there are nine persons in institutional quarantine.
To date, some 33,970 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 101 more recoveries than were reported the previous day.
Moreover, a total of 375,182 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus thus far, and of this number, 17,434 males and 19,565 females were found to be positive.
Of the 83 new cases detected on Wednesday, four were from Region Two, Pomeroon-Supenaam; 11 were from Region Three, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara; a whopping 45 were from Region Four, Demerara-Mahaica; another four were from Region Five, Mahaica-Berbice; 13 were from Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne; one was from Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni; two were from Region Eight, Potaro-Siparuni; and the remaining three cases were from Region Ten, UpperDemeraa-Berbice.
No new cases were recorded in Region One, Barima-Waini; and Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, on Wednesday.
The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February, and continues to roll it out across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections.
Recent figures show that some 393,355 persons, or 76.7 per cent of the adult population, have received their first dose of the vaccine, of which some 264,851 persons, or 51.6 per cent of persons who are 18 years and older, are fully immunised.
As it relates to adolescents, some 28,501 children, or 39.1 per cent between the ages of 12 and 17, have gotten their first dose; while 19,693 persons, or 26 per cent of that age cohort, are fully vaccinated.
Persons are encouraged to get immunised, since the COVID-19 vaccine provides a layer of protection against severe symptoms of COVID-19.
Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitising.
The measures also include vaccination requirements to access any public buildings, such as restaurants, places of worship, schools, as well as Government buildings. (G8)
