THE novel coronavirus has claimed yet another life within the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 140.
The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the most recent victim is 42-year-old Rixon Munroe of Albouystown.

This newspaper was told that the man died on Monday while being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Prior to his demise, Munroe, in addition to suffering from COVID-19, had severe underlying conditions such as sickle cell disease, epilepsy, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary hypertension and anaemia.

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.
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, comorbidity is each additional condition.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that 81 per cent of the persons who contract the virus will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms, and another five per cent will need intensive care.

Guyana on Monday recorded 51 new cases of COVID-19, taking the total number of cases recorded in Guyana to 4,894. Of that number, 3,791 persons have recovered so far.
Information provided by the Ministry of Health showed that the cases were recorded in Region Two (three cases), Region Three (one case), Region Four (18 cases), Region Seven (20 cases), Region Eight (three cases) and Region 10 (three cases).

Nine persons remain in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 68 persons are in institutional isolation; 67 in institutional quarantine and 887 persons are in home isolation.
A total of 25,088 persons have been tested for the disease thus far. The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures (No. Eight) will expire on November 30, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per these measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes. Physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are also important. The curfew is now 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs.
Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231-1166, 226-7480 or 180/181 for assistance.