The upward trend continues for Guyana’s COVID-19 curve, with the detection of seven new cases on Tuesday – all of which were from the Mabaruma sub-district, Region One (Barima-Waini).
The region has been a budding hotspot for the virus, especially within the Moruca sub-district. Now, new cases are emerging in other parts of the region.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle informed during the daily briefing that seven new cases were confirmed from a total of 37 test samples. This brings the total number of positive cases to 284.
With 125 persons recovering from the virus, there are still 143 active cases in isolation, 19 persons in institutional quarantine and 11 persons in the COVID ICU. Deaths from the virus remain at 16.
So far, health officials have tested 2926 persons with 2642 being negative.
The DCMO pointed out that over the past week, the 25 new cases originated from Regions One (Barima-Waini), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The past few days also saw an alarming four deaths being reported.
Meanwhile, 10 healthcare workers have also contracted the disease thus far and are seeking medical care.
Dr Gordon Boyle questioned, “Are we really serious about returning to normalcy when we openly flout all the guidelines that have been outlined for our protection? Are we saying that we are uncaring about our life and those of others around us? Where has our appreciation for life disappeared to? It is unfair to our health care workers, ten of whom have become ill and have had to battle for their lives with COVID-19 and you know what, this was totally unnecessary but for your carelessness.”
She pleaded with the general populace to consider their actions and the dangers of not adhering to the COVID-19 related guidelines.
“I am pleading with you again to consider your actions and envisage that your life could drastically change and end in fatality. Avoid the COVID-19 trauma and cooperate fully with all who are working collaboratively with the Ministry of Public Health to contain the spread of this fatal disease in all our communities.”
Nevertheless, residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were warned about their actions of transporting Brazilian nationals to Georgetown amid the uncontrollable cases in the Portuguese-speaking country.
“I wish to allude to the irresponsible actions by our citizens in Region Nine whose intent was to transport Brazilian nationals to Georgetown, ignorant of their COVID status and cognisant that the COVID-19 situation in Brazil is out of control. In fact, as of today, Brazil has 1.63 million confirmed cases and 65,631 deaths…Is money all that matters, what about your life? Didn’t you think of the domino effect that such an action could have on yourself, family, friends?”
According to the World Health Organisation, the total number of cases is 11,327,790 with 532,340 deaths. In the region of the Americas, the number of cases is 5,820,840 with 265,024 deaths.
