THREE more persons have managed to overcome and recover from the dreaded Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the total number of local recoveries to 80.

Those persons were medically cleared by health authorities on Saturday, and according to reliable sources, they have since been sent home.

While three persons walked away COVID-19-free, one was added to the list of total infections, after health authorities recorded a new case within the past 24 hours.
According to information from the health authorities, the new case was found after some 45 persons were tested between Friday and Saturday.

Local authorities have tested 1,797 persons to date, and 1,643 of those persons have tested negative for the disease, while some 154 were positive.

Of the total number of infections, 80 persons have recovered, and 12 have died, but there are yet 65 active cases, of which 62 are in institutional isolation, and two are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

LONG-TERM RESPONSE
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 a 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.
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 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 plead with the residents of Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine to remain on high alert recognising that our neighbours, Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname are reporting new cases,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle in her update on Friday.
“Residents of Region Seven, with the new cases in Venezuela, and the upsurge in your region, your vulnerability is increased. We are calling on the Toshaos and other authorities to ensure that residents do not cross borders, and that persons from those other countries are not entering your community. Community members must report any migrant entering your community & anyone who has signs and symptoms, and immediately bring this to the attention of the health authorities,” Dr. Boyle advised.
As evidenced, COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well. And, according to global statistics, there are over 6.5 million cases of COVID-19, with over 382,000 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.