44 new COVID-19 cases recorded in 4 days; Regions 7 & 9 are hotspots

Guyana has recorded 44 new COVID-19 cases in the span of four days, bringing the total number of cases as of Tuesday to 396.

On Saturday, eight new cases were recorded followed by 10 on Sunday and 19 on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Health reported seven new cases from 62 additional tests. With 20 deaths and 181 recoveries, there are 195 active COVID-19 cases in institutional isolation including four persons in the COVID-19 ICU.

Of the seven new cases Tuesday, six are from Arau in Region 7 and one from Georgetown.

To date, the total number of tests done is 5,712; the number of persons tested is 4,478 with 4,082 persons being negative.

The 19 cases on Monday were all reported in Region Nine. Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud said the hotspots continue to be Regions Seven and Nine which remain high-risk areas.

“As you are aware, Upper Takatu- Upper Essequibo, Region 9 shares a wide expanse of border with Brazil where COVID-19 is rampant.

“Globally, Brazil ranks second after the United States of America and has reported a total of 2, 455, 905 cases with 88,017 deaths.”

The Ministry pleaded with residents in these regions to adhere to the health guidelines and to intensify community action.

“Village councilors, gate keepers and prominent members of the communities, your role is to work collectively to ensure compliance with the regulations if you wish to keep down the transmission of the disease.

“No cross border movement should be allowed and any migrants to the community must be immediately reported to the authorities. In the communities too, you have to act responsibly. Your health and safety are at risk,” Dr Persaud pleaded.

He repeated simple basic precautions:

–   only leaving home if there is an urgent need, wearing a mask in public, washing hands frequently and practicing social distancing, with gatherings of no more than 10 persons, will protect you from contracting the disease.