– Regions One, Four and Seven still heavily impacted by the disease

GUYANA continues to record a consistent increase in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with the latest statistics showing that the country recorded three new cases within the past 24 hours.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, said the new cases were discovered after authorities tested 56 persons between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Health authorities have tested some 2,634 persons to date, with 2,386 of those persons being negative and 248 positive. Of the positive cases, some 116 persons have recovered and 13 persons have died, but there are 120 active cases of which 118 are in institutional isolation and two in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

As cases continue to climb, health authorities have warned that the full effect of COVID-19 on the human body is not fully known; persons can recover from the Coronavirus disease but may develop other conditions that they previously did not have, which can result in death.

“So, my fellow Guyanese, lets follow the guidelines…We continue to say thank you to all of our health workers who continue to screen the population, provide testing for suspected cases and treat the positive cases,” said Dr. Boyle.

The safety of every Guyanese is dependent on the compliance with control measures, which were implemented by local health authorities to contain the spread of the disease. Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is still the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities outside of Georgetown which have recorded cases.

Among communities on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey; among those on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

According to the existing statistics, Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) continue to have most of the cases.

Dr. Boyle, however, assured that the Ministry of Public Health is working collaboratively with the various agencies within those regions to address and help arrest the situation that is threatening to spiral out of control.

“We are calling on all the residents to cooperate with the health officials as we work to contain the spread of the disease in your communities,” she advised.

Health authorities have found that a large number of positive cases, in these regions, have no signs and symptoms, so they are asymptomatic. These persons can transmit this disease and the infected person will not even know that they are sick because there is no sign.

Toshaos and village councillors, operations owners all have a role to play in this pandemic. Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, had called on them to impress upon villagers and workers the importance of what is being said. All of the evidence points to the fact that if the guidelines are followed, the disease will be contained.

Considering the situation, Dr. Persaud had said residents of the community need to “be on guard” and take all necessary precautions in order to prevent further spread of the disease.
“We are urging you to support the health team in this area by coming forward for testing if you have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive; by staying home unless it is necessary for you to come out, and if you must come out, ensure that your noses and mouths are covered.

“We ask that there is no congregating of persons, and that all passenger vehicles adhere to the guidelines that were provided. “We wish to also remind you of the runaway situation in neighbouring Brazil that has climbed to the position of being the second country in the world to have reported cases with an alarmingly high number of deaths registered,” said Dr. Persaud.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 10.1 million cases of COVID-19, with over 500,000 deaths. And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.