FOUR more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 866, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The ministry said that the latest fatalities include a 45-year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) who died on October 15 and her vaccination status is unknown; a 65-year-old unvaccinated woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 68-year-old partially vaccinated woman from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who both died on October 16.

The remaining fatality is a fully vaccinated 59-year-old-man from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) who also died on October 15. The latest fatalities take October’s death toll to 67.

Additionally, there are currently 3,777 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 122 new cases on October 16, 2021, from 865 tests. The 122 newly confirmed cases were recorded in Regions Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Nine and 10.

Region Four accounted for 45 of the new cases; Region Two recorded five cases; Region Three recorded 23 cases; Regions Five and 10 recorded seven new cases each; Region Six recorded 27 cases; Regions Seven and Nine recorded four new cases each.

The country has now recorded a total of 34,362 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020. Of the active cases, 28 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 125 are in institutional isolation; 3,624 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 until October 31, 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.