Seven unvaccinated patients die from COVID-19 in 24 hrs

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll increased to 653 with an additional seven deaths recorded within the past 24 hours and according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, none of those patients was vaccinated.

This prompted a further appeal from the Health Minister during his COVID-19 update on Tuesday for everyone to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as Guyana continues to battle a third wave.

“Unfortunately none of those persons [who died] would have been vaccinated,” the Health Minister said.

“Please go and get yourself vaccinated…you require both doses to be fully immunised but you can start the process by getting your first dose.”

With those seven new deaths, the Health Minister said that Guyana also recorded another 161 new infections from 1,728 PCR tests.

Dr Anthony noted that 29 of the 161 persons who tested positive are hospitalised with severe symptoms while 37 are in the COVID Intensive Care Unit.

“It is challenging with the amount of sick people coming into the hospital and of course the persons who need extra attention and we have to put them in the ICU.”

Additionally, 13 pregnant women also tested positive for the virus, and according to Dr Anthony, over the past few weeks, there has been an increase in related cases. As such, special arrangements will have to be put in place to facilitate the delivery of the babies.

Meanwhile, as of Monday, 169, 209 people or 33 per cent of Guyana’s adult population would have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

For first dose numbers; 322,586 people or 62.9 per cent of the adult population have received their jab. And finally, 12,563 adolescents have been vaccinated.