34 persons tested for COVID-19 within 24 hrs, no new cases

As of May 13, Guyana did not record any new case of COVID-19 after 34 persons were tested within the last 24 hours, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle.

The number of positive cases remains at 113 and the number of COVID deaths is 10. Recovered cases are now 41.

This means that there are 62 active COVID-19 cases in the country.

“In total we have tested 1020 persons with 907 being negative. We currently have five persons in institutional quarantine and 62 in institutional isolation. Our COVID-19 ICU has 3 persons,” Dr Gordon-Boyle said.

As of Tuesday, Guyana confirmed cases in seven of its 10 administrative regions.

“This is the situation that we were trying to avoid when we instituted the guidelines, with the clear understanding that limiting the spread of this disease to as few regions as possible would have guaranteed us a quicker resolution. With this new development, our only hope is that you our citizens finally realize that unless you act responsibly our health system is at risk of becoming overburdened with COVID-19 cases,” the Deputy CMO said.

“The lessons learned from many countries that have managed to slow the rate of infection and contain this disease were either by forceful measures or by the disciplined participation of their citizens to join forces with the Government.”

Those citizens would have:

-Stayed at home when they were advised to

-Maintained the physical distancing in public spaces

-Washed their hands before eating, touching their face and before engaging in activities with others

-Cleaned the surfaces in their homes and places of work as often as possible

-Reached out for medical attention when unwell or if they were knowingly in contact with a positive case