EVEN as government continues to implement systems to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Ministry of Health has reported that 657 new cases and two more deaths have been recorded in a 24-hour period. A third death which occurred in December 2020 was included in the figures released on Sunday.

Since the first case was confirmed in March 2020, Guyana has recorded a total 44,902 cases and 1,070 deaths.

According to the ministry, the latest fatalities are a 63-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 74-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who were both unvaccinated and died on January 08, 2022. The third person, a fully vaccinated 84-year-old woman from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) died on December 23, 2021.

Additionally, there are currently 5,908 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 657 new cases which are spread across the ten administrative regions.

Region Four is leading the way with 345 new cases. There are 13 new cases in Region One; 18 in Region Two; 89 in Region Three; six in Region Five; 67 in Region Six; 35 in Region Seven; eight in Region Eight; 44 in Region Nine and 33 in Region 10.

Of the active cases, five persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 107 are in institutional isolation; 5,787 are in home isolation, and nine are in institutional quarantine.

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

In the past week, there has been a consistent rise in the number of confirmed cases.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony had said that this consistent rise could be a sign of the presence of the Omicron variant, which is reportedly more transmissible. Samples have already been sent overseas for testing.

“Pertaining to whether we have Omicron or not, as I said based on the evidence that we have, we do believe that it’s Omicron and that’s because of its contagiousness. The number of cases that we are seeing in the shortened time, the types of symptoms that people are having, the less hospitalisation that we are witnessing… so there are all these features that we have observed using our collection of data and because of that we can predict that that is what we have here,” Minister Anthony said.

He added that several Caribbean countries have confirmed the presence of the virus in their territories.

Minister Anthony and health officials have urged persons who have tested positive for the virus to isolate themselves until they have been cleared.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until January 31, 2022. 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 12:00hrs 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.