–130 new cases recorded in 24 hours

THE novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed yet another life within the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 74.
Health authorities said the recent victim is a 71-year-old female from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). She died while receiving treatment at a local health facility on Friday.

The Ministry of Health expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, and pledged to make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time.
Officials of the ministry have since contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact- tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who might have been exposed to the victim.

Guyana has lost someone to COVID-19 almost every day over the past month. There has also been a daily increase in the number of cases. The country reported 130 new cases within the past 24 hours.
Health authorities here have so far tested 13,250 persons, with 10,541 proving negative and 2,709 positive. Of the total positive cases, 1,490 persons have recovered, and 73 have lost their lives.

The remaining cases are being monitored by the authorities who have maintained that cases are being detected because more tests are being done. Sample-taking was also increased across the country, because the authorities had believed that many cases were going “under the radar.”
This suspicion prompted them to distribute more sample kits across the country, especially to regions where the infection rate is high. Most of the cases have so far been recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
“We are sending out more kits, so there will be an increase in sample collection… The testing itself has components: one is sample collection, and then there is the processing of samples,” said Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony in a recent report.

The actual testing will be done centrally, at the National Reference Laboratory, because regional facilities lack the capacity and personnel with the technical skills needed to get it done. While the government hopes to improve capacity in those regions, the immediate need for sample-testing takes precedence, especially with the high number of asymptomatic cases.

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 the persons who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe ones, and five per cent will need intensive care.

The COVID-19 disease has proven to be “a real killer,” especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, among other ailments.

Persons have been consistently encouraged to take extra precautions, because there is no approved cure or specific treatment for the disease. Guyanese have also been reminded time and again to observe the protocols established in the COVID-19 emergency measures.
Anyone who displays any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, can contact the authorities on the COVID-19 Emergency numbers: 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately, or visit the ministry’s website at www.health.gov.gy.