Almost four weeks since Guyana recorded its first case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the number of confirmed cases continues to grow and the death toll has risen to five.
During a live COVID-19 update yesterday, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence confirmed that there are now 31 positive COVID-19 cases recorded in the country.
Lawrence also reported that so far 115 persons have been tested between February 26th and yesterday’s date, with 31 being positive and 84 negative. Some eight persons have also recovered from the virus. The minister also noted that one case which was previously marked as inconclusive, proved negative after the individual was isolated for the requisite 14-day period.
As she spoke of the figures during the update, Lawrence noted that some 35 persons are currently under institutional quarantine by the Ministry of Public Health, comprising 10 persons in Region Three, 22 in Region Four and three in Region Six. While 23 persons are in institutional isolation, they are “distributed regionally” in regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Seven. 157 persons are currently on home quarantine.
“Three family members of the index case, who tested positive, had two post-isolation tests. Both tests for each of the three family members are negative” the minister said during the update while adding that some eight cases associated with Guyana’s first case of the Coronavirus have recovered from the virus after isolation. Lawrence went on to say that some eight persons are now hospitalised in the country’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with one of those persons being in critical condition.
Fifth death confirmed
Almost five hours after the minister had given a live update on the situation, Lawrence, through a press release, confirmed the fifth death. The release identified the deceased as Deryck Jaisingh, of Region Four, who passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday even-ing. It was not stated if the deceased man was the person who was in critical condition at COVID-19 ICU.
Posts were seen all across social media expressing condolences to Jaisingh’s family, before Lawrence had confirmed the death.
In one post on Facebook, it was noted that Jaisingh, who was popularly known on the drag racing scene as “Mad Dog,” had tested positive for the disease sometime last week and was reportedly recovering well until his condition worsened and he was taken to the ICU.
Stabroek News has been told that some members of Jaisingh’s family have been put in quarantine.
Provisions for healthcare workers
A number of concerns have been raised in relation to the safety and protection of healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses at the various facilities and those workers who come in direct contact with persons who have tested positive for the virus. It was noted previously that the primary healthcare workers who deal directly with COVID-19 patients may be provided with temporary housing and even provisions for transportation by the Ministry of Public Health.
While there has been no word on how soon the measures would be implemented, a report from the Department of Public Information quoted Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle as saying that the provisions will reduce the likelihood of relatives and others contracting the virus.
Dr. William Adu-Krow, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO) representative, in an invited comment, told Stabroek News that he had heard of plans to provide accommodation to the healthcare workers. “The healthcare workers, if they take effective measures they will still be able to go home and not contaminate…I thought it was a very good thing,” he said of the announced proposal.
Dr. Adu-Krow noted that with the plan, those workers on the frontline will be able to have somewhere to stay during their three and/or five-day shifts. “After that they can be decontaminated and then go home but they are also going to provide them transportation so that they don’t have to be in public place,” he said as he spoke on what he heard was in the works.
Minister Lawrence stated that all regions in the country are in receipt of the necessary Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers even as she commended those workers for their dedication.
