18 new COVID-19 cases recorded; 104 persons released from isolation

A total of 18 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Friday, according to the Ministry of Health, taking the overall known cases to 649.

In keeping with the World Health Organization’s updated guidelines for asymptomatic persons, the Government has released 104 more persons from isolation bringing the total number of recovered persons to 306.

The Ministry of Health has adopted recommendations from the WHO in July to release asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. The WHO, in its updated guidelines, noted that based on evidence showing the rarity of virus in respiratory samples after 9 days, it appears safe to release patients from isolation after 13 days.

Previously, persons had to be tested negative twice for COVID-19 within 24hrs for them to be released from isolation which resulted in persons spending as much as 100 days in isolation. But the global organisation said the strict reliance on PCR confirmation puts a strain on health resources and limit access to health care for new patients with acute disease.

The Ministry did not reveal when the 104 persons were discharged or in what region they reside. However, the News Room understands that 24 persons were discharged from the health facilities in Lethem on Wednesday.

The persons would have had to be free of symptoms three days before their discharge.

As a result, Guyana now has 104 active cases of COVID-19 in institutional isolation.

“Over the period 10-14 August, 79 new cases were reported; these cases came from Regions 9, 4, 7 and the Riversview area of Region 10,” the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, there are 73 in institutional quarantine and 6 in COVID ICU while the remainder are in approved home isolation.

Up to Friday, the Ministry of Health said the number of persons tested is 5,809.

The number of COVID related deaths remain at 22.

Persons are being urged to maintain physical distancing, wear masks and adhere to other guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19.