… 135 new cases in 24h
… As CARPHA finds COVID variants of the UK, US in the Caribbean
An alarming rate of coronavirus death was recorded for April, with 18 people succumbing to the disease in just one week.
Two other people died from the virus on Wednesday – taking the death toll to 252.
The Ministry of Health announced the latest deaths on Thursday as a 59-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 73-year-old man from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Both died at the appropriate medical facilities.
Of 2344 swabs taken for analysis, 135 people have tested positive. The total confirmed case now stands at 10,853 – 5,526 men and 5,327 women. Of this amount, 9,517 people have improved. There are 1,097 active cases, 13 in the Intensive Care Unit, 69 in institutional isolation, and 1,015 other than home. Another 10 people are in institutional quarantine.
Guyana has experienced 96,871 people so far. Analysis shows that 87 of the new positives have been found in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 18 in Region Three (Essequibo-West Demerara Islands). Eight were in Region Nine (Takutu Upper-Essequibo Upper), seven in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), seven in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), four in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and four in Region 10 (Demerara -Berbice Upper).
Cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remain at 1028, 962 and 241 respectively.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said during a COVID update on Thursday that regions with high active cases are being monitored. Currently, Region Four leads with the highest number of active cases.
“Region Four has seen the highest number of active cases, but we also have a significant number of active cases in Region Three, and we have seen active cases in Region Seven. Most other regions are fairly stable, but we continue to monitor them and we continue to do tests. ”
Please follow the guidelines
However, he said that the guidelines and the implementation measures should be followed in each region, to prevent transmission. Recently, the hospital has increased, and the younger population is also at risk.
The Minister stressed, “It’s in all the regions. If you don’t stick to these simple rules, you’re going to pass them, and that’s what we see. Vaccines help reduce the severity of the disease, so if people get vaccinated we will see fewer people going into hospitals. We’ve seen an increase in the hospital, and to avoid that, we want people to get vaccinated. ”
Just Wednesday, Dr Anthony said authorities are not sure if there is a new COVID-19 variant in the country, which is leading to more hospitals and more younger people becoming infected.
He noted that the only way to know this is through genetic sequencing of samples, and arrangements are being made to send samples to CARPHA for testing.
COVID variations
CARPHA, meanwhile, said Thursday that it had sourced COVID-19 variants from the United Kingdom and United States, as well as another variant similar to the Brazilian variant, from samples sent by several Caribbean countries, but which did not specify which.
“To date, CARPHA has detected cases of UK variation in several Member States. While no cases of Brazilian or South African variation have been found in the Region, U.S. and U.S. variations of concern have been found, ”the agency noted.
Since December 2020, CARPHA has been working with the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine on genome sequencing. Countries were asked to send an allocation of ten samples per month, which meets the requirements for sequencing.
“CARPHA encourages Member States to remain vigilant and continue to enhance their surveillance capability to screen, identify, test, quarantine, isolate and track new outbreak contacts, supported by public health prevention and control measures. At this critical stage of the pandemic and beyond, CARPHA will provide the highest quality technical support, advice and service to help inform decision makers in its Member States, ” added a statement. (G12)
