Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud today lamented the “almost runaway” situation with COVID-19 here and noted by contrast the declining number of cases in sister CARICOM countries.
An edited version of Dr Persaud’s statement at the Ministry of Public Health’s daily update follows:
The Ministry is gravely concerned with the alarming situation emerging just across and along our borders, as our indigenous brothers and sisters are at extremely high risk for the influx of imported cases and for contracting the disease.
To complicate issues, we continue to witness the downright nonchalance of our residents who are intent on carrying on with their laissez-faire lifestyles, seemingly unappreciative of the selfless efforts of our Frontline workers who are risking their lives for our protection. Is this callous attitude going to persist until Guyana is swarmed with a high number of deaths?
One death is already too many and we have eleven. Please note that our sister CARICOM countries have begun to see a decline in their numbers, yet we have an almost runaway situation – over the past four days, twelve new cases were confirmed.
Our efforts in limiting the spread of this disease are dependent on all of us, if we do not want to end up as the PAHO model indicated with an exponential rise in positive cases and deaths that will overwhelm our health system.
We have recorded positive cases at the Palms Geriatric Home, so the Ministry is working closely with the Authorities there to ensure that our Elderly are safe. We are also working feverishly with all other facilities that house the elderly to contain the disease…
As of today, our COVID-19 deaths remain at eleven (11) and the number of confirmed remains at 139. To date, the total number of persons tested is 1, 500 with the total number of negative cases being 1, 361. We currently have sixty-seven (67) persons that have recovered, sixty-one (61) active cases in institutional isolation, two (2) patients in the COVID ICU and (8) persons in institutional quarantine.
Yesterday, we celebrated 54 years of Independence and we are hoping that the entire Guyana can continue to enjoy this beautiful country of ours, however the survival of this nation is in your hands. I hope that you choose wisely.
So, stay home, stay safe and continue to pray for our nation.