–32 in ICU, 273 new cases

SEVEN more persons, who were not vaccinated, have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 713, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The ministry said that the latest fatalities include four residents of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – three females ages 83, 44, 48 and a male age 58. One of the females died on September 11 while the other two died on September 18; the male died on September 10.

The other fatalities are a 90-year-old woman from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam) who died on September 11; an 82-year-old woman from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam) who died on September 12 and a 79-year-old man from Region Eight (Potaro – Sipuruni) who died on September 13.

According to the ministry, all seven persons were unvaccinated and died while receiving treatment at a Ministry of Health facility. Additionally, there are currently 3,668 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 273 new cases on September 18, 2021, from 2,078 tests.

The 273 newly confirmed cases were recorded in all 10 of the country’s administrative regions.

Region Four accounted for 141 of the new cases; Region One recorded four new cases; Region Two recorded 11 cases; Region Three recorded 28 cases; Region Five recorded 32 cases; Region Six recorded 17 cases; and Region Seven recorded 16 cases. Region Eight recorded six new cases while Regions Nine and 10 recorded nine new cases each.

The country has now recorded a total of 29,345 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020. Of the active cases, 32 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 170 are in institutional isolation; 3,452 are in home isolation, and 14 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 until September 30, 2021. They may 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, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 22:30 hours to 04:00 hours.

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