Guyana has recorded two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 127 while the Health Ministry has voiced concern about the spread of the virus in regions One and Seven.
In its COVID-19 update yesterday, the ministry said another 31 persons were tested for the virus, moving the number of persons tested so far in Guyana to a total of 1,329.
Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, Director of Primary Health Care Services, stated that 57 persons have now recovered from the virus, representing an increase of 10, while there are 60 persons in institutional isolation who account for the number of active cases to date. She revealed that there are still three persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, while the number of deaths remain at 10.
“The Ministry is very concerned with increased cases seen in Region One…. and Seven,” Hamilton said, while adding that Region One now has two confirmed cases in two sub-districts.
Hamilton mentioned that Region Seven now has a total of seven cases. However, sources from the region told this newspaper that the Region has only now confirmed a second case, while the remaining persons are only suspected cases and are in quarantine. The Region’s first case was reported on May 12.
Hamilton stated that this is the situation that the ministry was working hard to prevent, while noting that with the measures implemented, there were expectations for the transmission to be slowed but new cases are still being recorded every day.
Only three regions—Two, Five and Eight—have not recorded any cases.
Hamilton also stated that more men have contracted the virus, with the percentage standing at 57% of the total cases and the remainder being women.
Dr. Dennis Bassier, Men’s Health Coordinator at the ministry, noted the “alarming rise” in the number of cases in Guyana and the fact that the majority are men within the age range of 16 to 59. He further pointed out that the large amount of the men who have been positively diagnosed are not single and as a result their partners and even children have to be tested due to them being exposed.
Bassier said his department has seen the gatherings at bars, shops and restaurants during the day to compensate for the closure during the curfew hours and even gatherings after the curfew hours. “It has emerged that men think that COVID-19 is not in their area or because our number of positive cases and deaths is low that it is under control,” he said as he pleaded with men to be more serious and think about their families and adhere to the measures that are in place.
He added that there should be no shame in wearing a face mask, sanitising or practicing social distancing as he added that there will be no loss of pride but there could be loss of health or life if these measures are not followed.
