More areas identified – as Reg. 4 remains epicentre of COVID-19 pandemic

DPI, Guyana, Friday, May 08, 2020

Region Four remains the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana, as several communities on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara have recorded confirmed cases of the virus.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud today disclosed that on the East Coast of Demerara, positive cases were reported in Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, Strathspey.

While on the East Bank of Demerara confirmed cases have been reported in Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence and Timehri.

These communities have been added to a list of hotspots identified by the Public Health Ministry. In Late April several areas Central Georgetown were identified – Kitty, Sophia, Turkeyen, Liliendaal, Cummings Lodge, Alberttown and Cummingsburg, Bourda, Lamaha Park, South Ruimveldt and Thirst Park.

Dr Persaud warned of persons who may be asymptomatic, meaning those persons who may have the virus but not be showing any symptoms.

“From the information provided globally, many healthy younger persons infected with COVID-19 do not display the usual symptoms. These persons can continue to transmit the virus to other vulnerable persons in our society by not practising control measures such as hand hygiene, physical distancing and the using of masks.”

The Public Health Ministry has continued to appeal to persons to come forward if they have been in contact with a positive case or experienced any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

It noted that testing is crucial if healthcare workers are to uncover asymptomatic cases and provide them with the required screening and assist in reducing the number of illnesses and deaths as a result of the virus.

To date in Guyana, 785 persons have been tested with 692 of those tested returning negative. The country has recorded 94 positive cases of COVID-19, inclusive of 10 death and 35 recoveries.