— health minister says most victims had pre-existing conditions

THE Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of two more Guyanese, taking the local death toll to 46.
Health officials confirmed that the recent victims were an 82-year-old female of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 47-year-old woman from Region One (Barima-Waini).

Both persons were admitted to a local health facility and were tested after showing signs of COVID-19. They, however, succumbed while receiving treatment on Friday.
The Ministry of Health offered condolences to the families of those persons and said they will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time.

The ministry also confirmed that they were in contact with all relatives and persons, to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to anyone who might have been exposed to the victims.

Guyana has so far recorded 1,416 cases of COVID-19, but 844 of those persons have since recovered while 46 persons have lost their lives. Of the remaining cases, 55 persons are in institutional isolation and 459 are in home isolation while 14 persons are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

According to the World Health Organisation (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.
The WHO had said that 81 per cent of persons, who contract COVID-19, will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms and five per cent will need intensive care.

But the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer”, especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities.
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said many of the persons, who died from COVID-19, had pre-existing conditions.

“They had varying diseases and in most cases, those were the reasons why they were hospitalised… they had other conditions… we did not know they had COVID-19 until they were tested,” said Dr. Anthony during a virtual press briefing on Friday.
While most of the victims were either elderly or had co-morbidities, there were cases where persons were fairly young and had no pre-existing condition, but succumbed to COVID-19.

It is to this end that all Guyanese were reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which are in effect until September 30, 2020. This order emphasises the need to always use a face mask correctly and consistently when leaving home, practise physical distancing, and observe good hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If you do have symptoms of COVID-19 or any concerns about which you need information, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline numbers – 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 – or visit the Ministry of Health’s website at www.health.gov.gy.