A total of 19 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed Monday from samples taken within a day,
New statistics provided by the Ministry of Health showed that there are now 7317 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 172 deaths.
The most recent deaths were reported Sunday, following the deaths of two men – a 78-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 60-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
However, six patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 38 in institutional isolation and six in institutional quarantine. There are also 670 people apart from their homes. About 6431 of the 3756 men and 3561 women have fully recovered. To date, Guyana has experienced 46,895 individuals.
Meanwhile, analysis of new cases showed that new cases were confirmed in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo-West Demerara Islands), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five ( Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The total number of cases detected so far in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain constant at 232 and 409 respectively.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said on Monday that efforts are continuing to procure vaccines, noting that more will be available in the near future. Guyana will acquire its first batch through the COVAX mechanism.
“Vaccines are going to become more available on the international market and many of the countries that produce the vaccines are giving them urgent use authorization… We will have to see how vaccines are available and what those registered with the WHO etc. out. Once they have registered with the World Health Organization, I think we can have them in Guyana as well, ”the Minister noted.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

COVAX, the global initiative to ensure access to coronavirus vaccines for all countries regardless of economic status, would have signed an advance purchase agreement with Pfizer for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine candidate last week. This vaccine has already received the World Health Organization’s urgent use list. As such, COVAX announced that the phasing process will begin with the successful negotiation and implementation of supply agreements.
COVAX also said it will exercise an option through an existing agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) to receive its first 100 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca / Oxford University.
COVAX also anticipates that, with another existing agreement with AstraZeneca, at least a further 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine will be available for distribution to COVAX participants.
Initiatives led by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and Gavi, are already underway for COVAX to distribute vaccines to economies eligible for assistance. Gavi makes US $ 150 million available from its core funding as initial support for readiness and delivery.

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