THREE more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 573, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The Ministry of Health said that the latest fatalities were two females and one male: A 54-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a 47-year-old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); and a 65-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). They all died on August 12, 2021 while receiving treatment at a Ministry of Health facility.

Additionally, there are currently 961 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 111 new cases on August 14, 2021, after 1,503 tests.
The newly-confirmed cases were recorded in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten.

Region Four accounted for 31 of the new cases, while Region Two recorded 15 new cases; Regions Three and Ten each recorded four new cases; Regions Five and Nine each recorded one new case, and Regions Six and Seven recorded two new cases each.

Even as new cases were recorded, 14 persons were reported to have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 21,927.
The country has now recorded a total of 23,455 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 16 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, 80 are in institutional isolation, 859 are in home isolation and six are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force from August 1, 2021, until August 31, 2021. They could be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 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.