-one new case recorded

THERE continues to be varying developments in the fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), as the past 24 hours proved positive for Guyana, with three persons winning the battle against the disease and being medically cleared by health authorities.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud said the three new recoveries took the total number of recoveries to 95, but Guyana is still contending with the disease. Health authorities detected a new case of the disease within the past 24 hours, after conducting seven tests.

Some 1,927 persons have been tested so far, with the number of negative cases being 1,768 and 159 positives.

While 95 of the 159 infected persons have recovered, 12 persons have lost their lives and there are 53 actives cases, of which 52 are in institutional isolation and one in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

With the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams slowly approaching, Dr. Persaud again said parents and teachers will have a big role to play, in ensuring that students remain safe as they prepare for and write their exams.

“Today (Friday), I wish to turn my attention to the teachers and the auxiliary workers that will be on call as our youngsters return to school. Auxiliary Workers, please ensure that the rest room area is kept clean with water available for kids to flush toilets after they use them and to wash their hands,” Dr. Persaud advised.

He reminded teachers and other workers to “keep an eye” on those students who may want to loiter in the area; just make sure that they wash their hands and go back immediately to their classroom.

“To the teachers, the Ministry of Public Health thank you for responding to the call during this COVID-19 pandemic to assist in preparing our Nation’s children for this important exam,” said the CMO, adding that the role of teachers is to reinforce the health guidelines outlined by health authorities.

Health authorities here 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 last 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 and anyone who has signs and symptoms, and immediately bring this to the attention of the health authorities,” Dr. Boyle advised.

As is evident, COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well; and, according to global statistics, there are 7.2 million cases of COVID-19, with over 413,000 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.