–Guyana goes two days without any new recorded cases of COVID-19

GUYANA continues to record positive developments in its fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), as four more persons recover from the disease and were medically cleared by local health authorities between Saturday and Sunday.

The indicators, though subtle, show that Guyana is slowly winning the fight against COVID-19. But the fight is far from over, as health authorities have to contend with 48 known active cases of the disease.

Guyana was, however, spared the COVID-19 scourge over the past two days, with no new cases recorded within that time. There was no increase in cases, even though health authorities tested 32 persons between Saturday and Sunday.

Some 1,959 persons have been tested so far, and according to the results, 1,800 were negative and 159 persons were positive.

The total number of infections has since decreased, as some 99 persons have recovered, and 12 have lost their lives. All of the remaining active cases are in institutional isolation, with no one requiring intensive care treatment.

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) is still 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 a past report.

“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 7.5 million cases of COVID-19, with over 423,000 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.