While there is no approved treatment for COVID-19, the Ministry of Public Health is doing clinical trials at the Georgetown Public Hospital where the most severe cases are being treated.
“We must reiterate that there is no approved treatment for COVID-19 however clinical trials are being done at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where the most severe cases are being treated,” Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle revealed Thursday.
She did not expound on what treatment the clinical trial entails, however, Dr Gordon-Boyle had previously told the News Room that the Ministry of Public Health is looking to use convalescent plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat others who are infected with the disease.
The treatment has not been officially approved by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) nor the US Food and Drug Administration.
Guyana was seeking approval to do the trial.
The plasma from recovered patients is said to contain antibodies developed by those persons to fight the disease. Health officials believe this can be used to help other patients whose immune system have not been able to work as fast.
Doctors have been using convalescent plasma transfusions to help patients fight diseases as far back as the Spanish Flu of 1918. More recently, the procedure has been used in patients with SARS, Ebola, H1N1 and others.
A number of persons who recovered from the deadly disease in Guyana have already donated their blood for this cause.
No new cases
Meanwhile, as of May 14, the Ministry tested 32 persons within the last 24 hours and they all tested negative.
The number of positive cases remains at 113 and the number of COVID deaths is 10. Recovered cases are now forty 42; this means there are 61 active COVID-19 cases in the country.
In total, 1052 have been tested of which 939 are negative.
There are currently five persons in institutional quarantine and 61 in institutional isolation; the COVID-19 ICU has three persons.
The mobile testing unit will be in La Parfaite Harmony on the West Bank of Demerara and South Ruimveldt in Georgetown in the new week.
“I am sure that some of you have fears about quarantining and isolation but be assured that MoPH has set up these facilities bearing in mind that you are away from home and so is trying to make you feel as comfortable as possible,” Dr Gordon-Boyle said.
- MoPH quarantine facilities are free of cost
- We provide three square meals per day prepared by a certified cook and team
- There is a doctor and team on hand to care for and monitor you twice daily as well as testing to determine whether you have underlying medical conditions
- There are games, free internet connection and television. Telephone services to call family and friends
- And psychosocial support sessions
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- MoPH has partnered with two hotels not free of cost to you of course, but it ensures that you have your own private space
- You can have all the amenities you would like but you must remain in the facility
- Please be advised that packages except cooked food, alcohol and drugs can be dropped off at the Civil Defense Commission and these will be delivered to the facility free of cost wherever you are
- With regard to isolation facilities, the conditions are the same, access to wifi, 3 meals, and outdoor space to move around.
- If you are in critical condition, then you are required to be in the ICU and you are not allowed to leave
