COVID-19: More patients being hospitalised as deaths, cases spike

More patients are now being hospitalised with a ‘sicker’ version of COVID-19 in Guyana as cases and deaths spike. Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, on Wednesday, revealed that many of these patients require intensive care and assistance with breathing.

According to the minister, over a month now there has been an increase in cases, specifically in Regions Four, Three and Seven. There are now about 70 patients who are currently being treated in hospitals across the country. The minister, during his daily COVID-19 update, also noted that there is an increase in more young people getting infected with the virus.

“Out of seeing more cases, we have started seeing more hospitalisation so as of today, we right now have about 70 persons in hospitals and we have 54 at the Ocean View Hospital, we have persons at the Linden Hospital, West Demerara Hospital and New Amsterdam Hospital,” Dr Anthony said.

Additionally, there are nine patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

“Out of those that are being hospitalised, a per cent of them are more sicker and they will have to get ICU care.”

The minister is urging the public to take all necessary precaution against the virus and to adhere to the gazetted COVID-19 measures. He further revealed that there is no still no evidence of any of the new variants of COVID-19 are in Guyana.

In January, a total of ten samples were sent from Guyana for genetic sequencing to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago. A month later, the results were sent back and showed no evidence of any of the new variants. CARPHA has since suspended testing for new variants of COVID-19 in the region.

However, Dr Anthony noted that efforts are still being made for samples to be sent to the United States for testing.

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony revealed that if the cases continue to rise, then the government will have to reevaluate its response to the pandemic, especially as it relates to the national 10:30pm to 4am curfew. The death toll here hit 250 on Wednesday and with just a few days into the month, there have been 16 recorded COVID-19 deaths.