Guyana continues to record increases in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, with the announcement that there are now 33 confirmed cases even as the Health Ministry launched a new app to aid in the response to the outbreak.
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, yesterday afternoon during a live COVID-19 briefing, reported that as of yesterday, the number of confirmed cases rose to 33 with the number of deaths remaining at five. The minister noted that now, some 132 persons have been tested for the virus with 33 tests showing positive (inclusive of five deaths) and 99 showing negative.
She added that the number of persons within the Ministry’s quarantine as of Monday evening totalled 35 with 2 in Region Two, 10 in Region Three, 22 in Region Four, 3 in Region Six and 1 in Region Eight. Lawrence also said that 24 persons are currently at the Public Health Ministry’s isolation facilities with the regional breakdown being: 1 person at a facility in Region One, 4 in Region Three, 17 in Region Four, One in Region Five and also 1 in Region Seven. However, there was a decrease in the amount of patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as it has dropped to just 4 persons from 8 with only one person being in critical condition.
A number of persons have also reported suspected cases within Regions One, Eight and Ten. According to information reaching Stabroek News, a Mabaruma businesswoman was placed in quarantine after she reportedly showed symptoms of the Covid-19. This was confirmed by Mabaruma Mayor, Chris Phang, who said that persons who were employed by the businesswoman were sent home when the woman fell ill. Samples were taken from the woman and sent to Georgetown and she was placed in quarantine as they await instructions from the relevant health authorities.
Suspected Cases in Regions 1, 8 & 10
In Region Eight the police reported that a 60-year-old miner had visited the Mahdia Public Hospital complaining of feeling unwell. The information received from the police noted that the 60-year-old who conducts mining operations at the Norfolk Backdam, Konawaruk, was seen by the doctor who is the Regional Health Officer and was admitted as a suspected case of COVID-19 as he was coughing continuously and experiencing difficulties breathing.
Meanwhile, according to Acting Medical Superintendent of the Linden Hospital Complex, Dr Joseph London, a patient visited the Mackenzie Hospital on Monday and demonstrated a number of respiratory symptoms and after he was subjected to several tests, his condition worsened and the decision was taken to have the patient transferred to Georgetown where it was agreed that he would be able to receive the higher level of care that was needed urgently. In a statement, Dr London said that the hospital has taken a more aggressive role in addressing the concerns of both the staff and members of the public.
The Medical Superintendent disclosed he has met with members of staff and reassured them of the hospital’s ability to address any issues that they may be confronted with. “We are following all standing operating procedures and the reality is that the man was transferred because he needed a much higher level of care and Georgetown will be handling that matter,” the Doctor said.
New app to aid in Ministry’s COVID response
Meanwhile, in an attempt to improve the response of the ministry to reports of suspected cases of COVID-19, the Ministry of Public Health has launched a new online app.
Prior to the minister’s address during the live COVID-19 update on Tuesday, consultant, Julius Simon, explained that the purpose of the app is to enhance the measures that the ministry has already initiated to combat the spread of the virus and to provide information. Simon noted that the application can be accessed at www.covid19.health.gov.gy. He said that persons will be able to access the respective hotline numbers for all the regions and would be able to call those hotlines with just one tap and this enables the efficient management of all calls made to the hotlines through the app. “All of the calls which go to the hotline will be recorded and the information will be available to be analyzed by the Ministry of Public Health staff so that they can be able to target the response,” the consultant stated.
In addition, Simon stated during the broadcast that the application also contains a “self-check” feature which will enable persons to simulate a hotline phone call as they would have to answer the same series of questions through the app that would usually be asked when a phone call is made to the hotline. Subsequent to using that feature persons would receive an assessment of what they should do next and all suspected cases reported in the app through the use of that feature would be forwarded directly to health authorities so that further action could be taken.
Minister Lawrence during her remarks noted that the purpose of the application is also to strengthen the surveillance capacity for the early identification of COVID-19 cases and to reduce the long wait for a response when using the hotlines. Persons using the app must input relevant personal information such as name and address if they suspect that they may be exhibiting signs and symptoms of the virus.
