THE Ministry of Health has reported that two more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 740.

According to the ministry, the latest fatalities are two women; a 58-year-old woman from Region One (Barima-Waini) who was unvaccinated and a 70-year-old from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) whose vaccination status is unknown. Both women died while receiving treatment at a Ministry of Health facility.

Meanwhile, there are currently 3,708 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 362 new cases from 1,988 tests.

The newly confirmed cases were recorded in all of the regions except Region Nine.

Region Four accounted for 167 of the new cases; Region One recorded three new cases; Region Two recorded 16 new cases; Region Three recorded 111 new cases; Region Five recorded 21 new cases and eight new cases were recorded in Region Six. Region Seven recorded 24 new cases while Regions Eight and 10 recorded one and 11 new cases respectively.

Even as new cases were recorded, 326 persons were reported to have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 25,702.

The country has now recorded a total of 30,186 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 36 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, 163 are in institutional isolation, 3,545 are in home isolation, and four 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 September 1, 2021, 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, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew begins at 22:30 hours and ends at 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.