The total incidence of the new coronavirus is 7528, after 58 new positives were discovered. As infections have risen, active cases have exceeded 800.
The daily dashboard showed the number of deaths remaining in 175. One person was removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which now has six patients.
There are 42 institutionalized unaccompanied patients, 764 on home isolation and 13 in institutional quarantine. Recoveries are now 6541. About 48,309 people were tested – 3894 men and 3694 women were positive.
Regional analysis shows that one new case has been detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), three in Region Three (Essequibo-West Demerara Islands), 46 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica -Berbice), five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
There were no disclosures in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Essequibo Upper) which remained at 225, 609, 233 and 409 respectively.
Speaking about the huge increase in cases seen throughout January, the Health Minister said this was due to public complacency during the Christmas season. Despite warnings, he noted, many people chose to curtail the measures put in place to protect the population.
“We warned people during December that we are going to see a spike in January if they don’t take precautions. Unfortunately, many people did not listen to our call and we see a spike in cases. Coming closer to the end of December, we had approximately 350 active cases. We are now up to 816 cases so you would have seen that increase over a very short period of time because people were not adhering to these guidelines we have established, ”he said.
Dr Anthony reiterated that public co-operation is essential to bring the situation under control as the Ministry cannot achieve this feat on its own.
“We would all need to take on responsibilities. It is not a battle that the Ministry of Health can only hold or one side of people while others do as they please. Everyone had to get involved and when everyone does the right thing, then we are all protected. ”