42 COVID-19 cases recorded from July 12; schools told to plan for re-opening of new academic year
Guyana recorded one new COVID-19 case on Monday from 84 tests bringing the overall total known cases to 337, including 163 recoveries but from July 12 to now, 42 cases were recorded, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle.
Even though Guyana’s cases continue to climb, the Ministry of Public Health is urging schools to “draw up comprehensive plans” for the reopening of the new academic school year.
The next academic school year usually commences in September but it is unclear at this time, whether the Ministry of Education will make any changes.
Dr Gordon-Boyle said that a joint committee between parents and teachers will be formed “to ensure that the safest school environment is created before our students return to school.”
Schools across the country have been closed since March 17, but recently reopened in mid-June for students to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) amid strict COVID-19 rules.
Meanwhile, so far the total number of persons tested is 3,769. The number of active cases in institutional isolation is 155 including two persons in the ICU; there are 15 persons in institutional quarantine and 19 persons have died.
Dr Gordon-Boyle further stated that since July 12 positive cases continue to climb.
“We have detected 42 new cases with many of the new cases reported in Regions 1 and 9.”
COVID-19 hotspots are now in Moruca and Mabaruma, Region One; Aranka, Bartica and Sulphur Rose in Region Seven; Itabac and Mahdia in Region Eight and Lethem in Region Nine.
The Ministry presented a breakdown of cases and deaths in some of the regions below:
| Region | Positive Cases | Deaths |
| 1 | 102 | 1 |
| 4 | 120 | 14 |
| 7 | 54 | 1 |
| 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | 11 | 1 |
Note: regions 6 and 10- each has reported a death.
