THE number of confirmed cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has remained constant over the past 24 hours in Guyana, with the number remaining at 19.

This was according to Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, during her daily update on the Ministry of Public Health’s Facebook page, on Thursday. While the cases remained the same, the minister said Guyana had recorded two new deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to four. Although Minister Lawrence did not provide details on the fourth death, the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the victim was a 59-year-old man, who died at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, which has a special COVID-19 facility.

Prior to the man’s demise on Wednesday, Minister Lawrence had confirmed the death of Osa Collins, a 78-year-old resident of New Amsterdam, who recently returned to Guyana from the United States of America (USA). Guyana had confirmed its first imported case of COVID-19 in Georgetown on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

That patient, a 52-year-old Guyanese woman who had travelled from the United States of America to Guyana on March 5, 2020, was presented to the public health system on March 10. She died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation on March 11. Since then, four of the woman’s relatives and 13 others have tested positive for the virus.

The cases were from three regions, with Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) having 17 cases and one probable case; and Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) having one each. In addition to Collins and the 52-year-old woman, Jermaine Ifill, an emergency medical technician (EMT) who was one of two persons hospitalised in the Coronavirus ICU, succumbed on Tuesday to the dreaded COVID-19. Health authorities have so far tested 75 persons, with the results being 19 positives, 55 negatives and one inconclusive.

Director of Disease Control, Dr. Nadia Liu, had explained that an inconclusive case means that the person tested neither negative nor positive. It, however, means that the person can go on to manifest signs and symptoms of the virus and then test positive.

In such cases, health officials will continue to monitor the patient(s). Minister Lawrence said the number of persons in institutional quarantine has moved from 36 persons to 31. And of the 11 persons in isolation, one remains hospitalised in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). According to the minister, 121 persons are practising home quarantine.

“As of yesterday (April 1) calls to the COVID-19 hotline moved from 1,142 to 1,252…I wish to further inform you that Regions Two, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 now have COVID-19 hotlines,” said the public health minister. It was reported that hotline reports from persons, who were in contact with infected persons, were coming from communities along the coastland, including Enmore and Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) to Prashad Nagar, Straboek and South Ruimveldt in Georgetown. There have also been calls from Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (ECD) and Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

The Ministry of Public Health surveillance team has also been reaching out to those “contacts.” And, in this regard, Minister Lawrence said persons, who are contacted by the surveillance team, must provide accurate information, since this could contribute to stopping the spread of the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact globally. As of April, the number of confirmed cases in 213 countries and territories stood at 823,626 with the number of deaths moving “alarmingly” from 36,405 to 40,598 in a matter of 24 hours.

In the region of the Americas, the total number of confirmed cases has increased from 163,014 to 188,751. The number of deaths in this region has also moved from 2,836 to 3,400 in 51 of the 55 countries that make up the Americas.

On Saturday, President David Granger said a “cavalier approach” in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic could ‘seriously’ impair government’s efforts to combat the virus, especially now that the cases have moved from five to eight persons. Such an approach from the public could result in consequences which will be devastating for the entire population, said the President. “Guyanese, I urge you to continue to support all medical professionals: doctors, nurses, and other caregivers. I urge you also to practise social distancing in public places and to avoid crowds, ceremonies, including funerals, and large gatherings,” said President Granger.

He also advised persons to remain calm and implement all guidelines pertaining to personal hygiene and infection prevention and control. Based on consultations, President Granger had issued directions under the Public Health Ordinance (Cap.145) and international standards to prevent and control the spread of this disease.

Speaking about those instructions, the President said: “I authorised the Minister of Public Health to take all measures considered necessary to restrain, segregate and isolate persons suffering from the disease and, or who may be likely to be suffering from the disease.” He believes that the public must adhere to infection-prevention and control measures, as personal conduct is the single most important element in preventing the spread of this deadly disease.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. WHO said most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older persons and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

WHO believes that the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads.
“Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practise respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow),” WHO advised.