GUYANA recorded a whopping four COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, sending chills among the Guyanese public and leading to louder calls by the local health authority for persons to take the virus seriously.

At 9:00 hours on August 19, 2020, the Ministry of Health (MoH) regrettably announced the country’s 26th COVID-19 related death. The deceased was a 43- year-old woman and a patient of the transitional ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Then, at 14:00 hours on the same day, the MoH announced the 27th COVID-19 related death. The deceased was a 72-year-old man who died in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after receiving medical care for five days. The Guyana Chronicle was later informed that the name of the deceased man was Cyril France.

Then, only four hours later, at 18:00 hours, the MoH announced two additional deaths, bringing the total, since March 2020, to 29 COVID-related deaths. Both patients died at the Bartica Hospital in Region Seven and were identified as a male and a female, age 55 and 41 respectively.

In all four cases the Ministry of Health indicated that is in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed.

The ministry encouraged members of the public to observe the COVID-19 Emergency measures put in place; to practice physical distancing ofat least six feet apart; to use a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving their homes, and practice good hand washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“The Health Ministry expresses sincerest condolences to the family of these… persons and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to assist the families to deal with the situation,” the ministry stated.

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