FOUR more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 744, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The Ministry of Health said that the latest fatalities are three males and one female: a 69-year-old man who was unvaccinated and died on September 19; a 58-year-old man who was unvaccinated and died on September 23; and a 66-year-old man who was fully vaccinated and died on September 22. All three men were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The other person to succumb after contracting the dreaded disease was a partially vaccinated 81-year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara), who died on September 23.

As it is now, there are 3,856 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 258 new cases on September 23, 2021. Those cases were detected following 2,062 tests, which were conducted between Wednesday and Thursday.

The 258 newly confirmed cases were recorded in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and 10.

Region Four accounted for 151 of the new cases, while Region One recorded eight cases; Region Two recorded 13 new cases; Regions Three recorded 67 cases and Region Five recorded eight new cases.

Additionally, six new cases were recorded in Region Six, while Regions Seven and 10 recorded three and two cases, respectively.

Even as new cases were recorded, 147 persons were reported to have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 25,848.

The country has now recorded a total of 30,444 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 37 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 171 are in institutional isolation; 3,644 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 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.