– Health authorities warn, ask that persons experiencing signs of the disease contact them

PERSONS who reside in regions where there have been no reported cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), have been taking the disease for granted, something which the health authorities have advised against because of the unpredictability and contagiousness of the disease.

“We are aware that persons residing in the regions where cases have not been reported are taking this situation for granted, instead of taking all the necessary precautions to protect themselves,” Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton said on Monday. “We continue to plead that your only protection is ensuring that you wear a mask, maintain physical distance if you are in public, but, most importantly, follow the curfew and other measures that the ministry has in place,” he said during his regular virtual COVID-19 update.

To date, there have been 153 recorded cases of COVID-19, with 73 of those cases still being active. Compared to the recent past, those figures have remained the same over the past 24 hours, even though the authorities have tested 40 persons within that time.

Health authorities have thus far tested 1, 658 persons, with the total number of negative cases being 1,505. But, of the 153 persons who’ve proven positive, 70 have recovered, 12 have since died, and of those cases deemed active, 71 are in institutional isolation, and two are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis.

The potential and existing activities are part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, whereby patients across the country’s 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services.

THE EPICENTRE
Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) remains the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities outside of Georgetown which have recorded cases.

Among communities on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. Among communities on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

Health authorities are also placing emphasis on the four hinterland regions, especially now that three of them regions have recorded cases of COVID-19.

The need for surveillance in those regions is also important, because Guyana’s South American neighbour, Brazil, is now rated as the COVID-19 epicentre of the Americas.
“We continue to ask residents to desist from crossing the borders as Brazil continues to record new cases every day. However, I ask that we pray for guidance for their health workers who like ours and those in every other country stand in the frontline as our brave heroes,” said Dr. Hamilton in her update on Monday.

Residents of Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and most importantly those who are from the mining communities are also asked to be vigilant and forthcoming with information, which who aid health authorities in the containment of the disease.

Persons experiencing the signs and symptoms of this disease are asked to contact the hotline if you can or the closest health facility so that medical professionals can visit and provide the necessary services. This is also being asked of all who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well. And, according to global statistics, there are over 5.9 million cases of COVID-19, with over 367,000 deaths. And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.

In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.