Boy, 17, among seven new ‘COVID’ deaths; May now deadliest month

A 17-year-old boy is among the seven new COVID-19 deaths reported by the Ministry of Health, taking the local COVID-19 death toll to 368 since the pandemic hit these shores on March 11, 2020.

The News Room understands that this 17-year-old boy, identified as “Jaffar,” was a student of the Covent Garden Secondary school on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). Based on reports received, the young boy was laid to rest on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry reported that the teenager died on May 24; the News Room understands that he had an underlying medical condition.

Meanwhile, the other deaths recorded are: a 63-year-old woman from Region Four, who died on May 22; a 58-year-old woman from Region Four, who died on May 23; a 78-year-old man from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who died on May 24; a 76-year-old man from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), who died on May 23; a 75-year-old man from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), who died on May 24 and, a 53-year-old woman from Region Five, who died on May 22.

April 2021, was previously the deadliest month with a total of 66 deaths. With these seven deaths, the month of May 2021, is now the deadliest month of the pandemic, locally. So far, 69 deaths have been recorded this month.

Just last week, a renowned pandit from Region Five, Rajin Lalaram died after being infected with the disease, COVID-19. His mother, wife and sister were also diagnosed with the disease but they have all since recovered.

Additionally, Guyana surpassed 16,000 cases of COVID-19 in Guyana, also recorded since March 2020.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 IMMEDIATELY or visit the Ministry’s website at www.health.gov.gy.