Guyana’s COVID-19 cases increased to 313 with five new cases on Wednesday from an additional 39 tests.
Of that amount, there are 31children below the age of 12 who have tested positive to date, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle said “a number of our children have been reportedly affected by COVID-19. According to the stats from March 11- July 12, 2020, in the 0-5 age group, 11 children representing 3.9% of all total cases have had the disease, 6-10 age group, 8 persons, representing 2.8% and in the 11-15 age group 12, representing 4.2 %, a total of 31 children representing 10% of all cases.”
As such, she urged parents to ensure children are protected by wearing masks and using sanitizers at all times.
Further Dr Boyle noted that the highest rate of infection is in the 21-60 age group representing 70% of all infections.
Yet she said, “this is the very age group most likely to be out and about and therefore at increased risk for exposure to COVID-19.”
Guyana has so far recorded 18 deaths with close to 50% recovery.
Dr Boyle said 156 persons have so far recovered while there are 139 active cases in isolation.
There are ten persons in institutional quarantine and five in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.
A total of 3,418 persons have been tested to date.
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer said Regions #1, #4 and #7 continue to see an increase in case.
From March 11 to July 12, she said: “cases climbed steadily (100 cases) for March-May 2020, with a successful flattening of the curve during the month of June (4 cases), only to start climbing again (12 cases) up to July 12, 2020.”
The Ministry is urging citizens to do their part to help flatten the curve.
