THERE continues to be a consistent increase in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, and the past 24 hours was no different, as authorities recorded eight new cases.

Health authorities have so far tested 3,379 persons, with 3,071 being negative and 308 testing positive for COVID-19.
Of the positive cases, 156 persons have recovered and 17 persons have died, but authorities are still monitoring and managing 135 active cases. Five of the active cases are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“It must be noted that our number of positive cases is still on the increase and that we now have nine out of 10 regions with COVID-19 cases, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) being the newest region to report cases,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, during a recent update.
It was reported that residents of Region Eight were urged to be vigilant, especially if they are in mining areas and bordering communities.
Despite the consistent rise in cases, Guyanese are still taking the disease lightly, and this is proven by the findings of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with UNICEF.

The two main results of the survey were that the level of fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 has decreased from 81.6 per cent to 53.5 per cent; and that 30 per cent of the respondents reported their unwillingness to give up their daily practice and adhere to guidelines provided.

“I wish to emphasise that the decline in your fear factor may be as a result of your tiring from the constant messages concerning COVID-19. Nonetheless, I wish you to recognise that our cases are still on the increase, and that we all are susceptible. COVID-19 is a ‘smart Alec’, according to our Guyanese parlance, so the best approach is not to behave as the 30 per cent of those persons in the survey who are unwilling to give up their free lifestyle; rather, let us try to avoid being infected, and to safeguard ourselves from the potential damage that COVID-19 can cause,” Dr. Boyle advised.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 12.8 million cases of COVID-19, with over 566,000 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.