— deaths related to the disease move to 25

By Navendra Seoraj
THE Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to show its deadly form, claiming the lives of three Guyanese in three days, with the latest person being a miner who was initially suspected to be suffering from malaria.

The miner, who resided in Region One (Barima-Waini), was working in a mining community in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), where he developed symptoms of what was suspected to be malaria.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Health, the man, after falling ill, was hospitalised at the Bartica Hospital.
“This male, 32 years old, was rushed to the hospital with suspicions of malaria but was later swabbed because of his previous contact with other possible cases at his work site,” said the health ministry.

The man, however, died before the result of the test returned, but the result later proved that the man was infected with COVID-19.
The miner’s death followed the passing of 87-year-old, Aron Peters and 73-year-old, Wilfred James, who both died while receiving treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), on Monday and Sunday respectively.

The health ministry has since confirmed that they are in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed.

As seen in recent days, there has been a consistent increase in cases of the disease and deaths caused by the disease. Among the persons who died in recent times are 74-year-old, Milton Paul; Geerjadai Jagnarine, 69; and 76-year-old May Portsmouth, who died while receiving treatment at the GPHC.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. There are, however, vulnerable groups such as persons with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who may develop the severe forms of the disease.

The Guyana Chronicle had earlier reported that the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer”, especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities.
This was according to doctors of the GPHC. At the time, Guyana had recorded six deaths due to the COVID-19 disease, and, while the loss of life is never pleasant, doctors had said most of the persons who died had co-morbidities.

In medicine, co-morbidity is defined as the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition; in the countable sense of the term, a co-morbidity is each additional condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that 81 per cent of the persons who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms, and another five per cent will need intensive care.

“Most of the people who passed have [sic] co-morbidities; some had diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and one of them even had severe pneumonia, which, without COVID-19, can also cause death…. These, coupled with the complications related to COVID-19, can be dangerous,” said Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at GPHC, Dr. Genellys Camps, during an interview with Guyana Chronicle.

Among those who lost their lives to the deadly disease are, 25-year-old Lethem schoolteacher, Donna Ambrose-Greaves; 34-year-old Abdool Khan, a resident of Bartica, who was asthmatic; and local ‘drag-racer’, Deryck Jaisingh, called “Mad Dog”.
Guyana’s first COVID-19 victim, 52-year-old Ratna Baboolall, was also hypertensive and a diabetic. Jermaine Ifill, an emergency medical technician (EMT), who had also succumbed to the dreaded disease, was also being treated for pneumonia.
Two other persons who died from the disease were Osa Collins, a 78-year-old resident of New Amsterdam and 77-year-old Colonel, John Percy Leon Lewis. Forty-five-year-old Lennox Williams, who also had underlying conditions, died because of COVID-19.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 20.1 million cases of COVID-19, with over 775,000 deaths. And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.
In the absence of treatment, government has established emergency measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
“Members of the public are encouraged to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures #8 published in the Official Gazette on 14 August. 2020 which emphasises the need to practise physical distancing at least 6ft apart, use a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving their homes and practise good handing washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said the health ministry.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assistance.