As phase one of the planned rollback of COVID-19 restrictions began yesterday, Guyana learned that 12 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease have been confirmed in Region One.
This was disclosed yesterday afternoon by Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud during the Ministry of Public Health’s daily COVID-19 update. It is the single highest daily increase in cases since tracking of the virus began.
Persaud revealed that the number of positive cases recorded so far in the country now totals 183.
Persaud said yesterday that 42 tests were done during the last round of testing in the country, which brings the total number of persons tested for the virus so far to 2,048.
With the 12 new cases, there are now 69 active cases, which account for the number of persons within institutional isolation, while some 24 persons are in institutional quarantine. 102 persons have so far recovered while 2 persons have been moved to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. Persaud noted that Region One’s cases have increased by 100%, which according to chart data means that the region has the third highest number of cases in the country. Region Four, the country’s largest region, is still treated as the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana and has the highest number of cases, followed by Region Seven.
It was revealed that a number of cases which were recorded prior to Thursday came from Region Seven. Overall, regions Four, Seven and One account for 85% of the cases recorded.
Persaud went on to say that a large number of the cases are persons between ages 20 and 49, with the 20 to 29 age group making up the majority. Additionally, he mentioned that from the analysis done, there is a need for behavioural change among the adult population. He also urged persons within the hinterland regions to act responsibly.
