Vaccine, COVID testing declined after removal of restrictions- Health Minister

Weeks after the government removed the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place since March 2020, the Ministry of Health is reporting a decline in testing and a further decline in vaccination.

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony on Monday said that this can be “problematic” and urged persons to get vaccinated and continue to take precautions.

“The Task Force is not as stringent in its monitoring, but we still encourage persons to take precautions, if you believe you are in a risky environment then the better thing to do is take those precautions,” Dr. Anthony said during his daily COVID-19 Update.

Hospitalisation continue to be at an all-time low and according to the Health Minister, only one new case was recorded over the last 24 hours.

There are currently 87 active cases with eight hospitalised and two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.

Meanwhile, 85.4 per cent of the adult population received their first dose vaccine and 65.5 per cent received their second dose.

For children aged 12 to 17, 47 per cent received their second dose and 34.2 per cent received their second dose.

Below is a regional breakdown of the vaccination rates:

Region One (Barima-Waini)

First dose (90.8 per cent)

Second dose (56.5 per cent)

Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

First dose (68.1 per cent)

Second dose (53.2 per cent)

Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara)

First dose (82.4 per cent)

Second dose (63.8 per cent)

Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

First dose (95.4 per cent)

Second dose (73.9 per cent)

Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice)

First dose (86.2 per cent)

Second dose (68.1 per cent)

Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne)

First dose (84.7 per cent)

Second dose (64.9 per cent)

Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni)

First dose (88.5 per cent)

Second dose (63.7 per cent)

Region Eight (Potaro- Siparuni)

First dose (55.5 per cent)

Second dose (45.2 per cent)

Region Nine (Upper Takutu– Upper Essequibo)

First dose (78.7 per cent)

Second dose (62.3 per cent)

Region Ten (Upper Demerara Berbice)

First dose (43.2 per cent)

Second dose (33.3 per cent)