7 of 10 regions record COVID-19 cases
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, May 12, 2020
The novel coronavirus has spread to two more regions and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle has warned that the projected figures of 1400 and 20,000 by PAHO can become reality if persons continue to flout the guidelines.
The most recent districts to record confirmed cases are Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni and Region Nine Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo. Regions One, Three, Six and ten are the others along with Region Four which has been deemed the epicentre of the virus.
Regions Two, Five and Eight have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date.
An initial analysis done by PAHO in March had projected 1,400 cases locally. However, a further study in April revealed that if no measures were implemented, Guyana would have 20,000 cases.
Dr. Gordon-Boyle noted that the virus is slowly making its way across the entire country, adding that everyone can help to arrest the situation by doing their part.
The DCMO also referred to an increasing number of confirmed cases in the Region of the Americas of which the United States, Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana are located.
As of May 12, the number of confirmed cases in the region increased to 1,743,717 with the number of deaths increasing to 104,549.
Dr Boyle described that situation as “a disaster is brewing at Guyana’s backdoor” if caution is not exercised.
She reminded that for normalcy to return persons must act responsibly to reduce the transmission of the disease and containing its spread.
“As the Ministry’s response efforts continue, your behaviour is not encouraging; you continue to flout control measures and to put all at risk. Instead of our curve beginning to flatten, we still see an upward trajectory in positive coronavirus cases,” the DCMO emphasised.
Persons are not only being asked to adhere to the guidelines but to be forthcoming with information as the ministry continues to conduct contact tracing to find those persons who might have been in contact with positive cases.