The Public Health Ministry yesterday reported 11 new COVID-19 cases following the testing of 59 more persons.
As a result, Guyana’s total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 150, with the number of persons tested for the disease to date being 1559.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, who gave the COVID-19 update, stated that the number of deaths remained at 11 with the number of persons in the COVID-19 ICU still at two. He also reported that 72 persons are currently in institutional isolation, which also accounts for the number of active cases at the time.
There were no new recoveries as the number of recovered cases remains at 67. Additionally, 11 persons were reported to be in institutional quarantine.
Continuing to appeal for safety in the hinterland regions, Persaud called on residents of these areas to adhere to the COVID-19 directives and to report to the authorities if they know of non-nationals entering the region, especially since the borders have been closed. “The non-official crossings are adding to the burden of surveillance,” Persaud stated.
In Region One, there have only been three confirmed cases so far. Regional Health Officer for the region Dr. Steven Chefoon reported that of those three cases, one has recovered, one died and the other is currently in institutional isolation. Chefoon went on to say that they have so far done 27 tests in the region.
Speaking on the precautionary measures taken by health authorities, he reported that there are isolation facilities in about eight communities while screening is conducted at the airstrip and the seaport. Additionally, he stated that highly trafficked areas within hospitals in the region are being sanitised hourly. Chefoon further noted that “wet markets” in a number of communities are being sanitized on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, Persaud continued to plead with residents to call the hotlines within their regions if they present with any signs and symptoms of the virus. He noted that in order to efficiently track persons who have come in contact with confirmed cases, mobile testing units have been set up and are currently deployed in regions Four, Six and Ten.
