14 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
79 new COVID-19 cases recorded; 13 in ICU …testing boosted in vulnerable communities
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s the number of COVID-19 cases in Guyana continues to raise in Guyana, the Health Ministry is looking to boost testing in communities that are vulnerable to the virus. On Wednesday, the Ministry reported 79 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard, the total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 4,324 – 2,285 are males and 2,039 are females. But only 800 of these cases are currently active; that is, 13 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 787 persons in isolation. That is 62 in institutional isolation and the remaining 725 in home isolation. There are now 32 persons in institutional quarantine. Meanwhile, some 3,394 persons have to date recovered from the life-threatening disease. The COVID-19 death toll remains at 130. The latest fatalities were recorded on Tuesday when a 77-yearold female from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and a 92-year-old man from Region One (Barima-Waini) died while receiving care at medical facilities. A total of 20,739 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana. Of the 79 new cases re-
Minister Anthony told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the mobile testing unit will make access for the procedure and to health officials much easier for citizens. Last weekend, the mobile unit was stationed at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, where the Ministry had observed a recent spike in positive cases in Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four). “We sent that unit into Diamond and surrounding communities. We thought it important to get a better picture of what is happening with the epidemic in these communities, and the way to know is to do more testing in those communities,” Minister Anthony noted. corded on Wednesday, a whopping 34 are from the Barima-Waini region (1); five from the PomeroonSupenaam region (2); nine are from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 25 cases are in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); and there is one case in each of the regions from Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and four cases are from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). The figures remained the same in regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected. Only last week, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony had expressed concerns about the low detection rate is some regions. As such, he encouraged citizens to take advantage of the mobile testing units that are dispatched to various communities where high number COVID-19 cases are being detected, such as Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara. During his latest COVID-19 update on Wednesday,
Ruling pending in Gary Best’s causing-death trial
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ormer Army Chiefof-Staff Gary Best’s causing-death trial continued on Wednesday before City Magistrate Rondell Weever. The prosecution replied to a nocase submission presented by Best’s lawyer Nigel Hughes, who is asking that the charge against his client be dismissed. Magistrate Weever will rule on the no-case submission on December 3, 2020. According to the first charge against Best, on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Greater Georgetown, he drove a motor vehicle, PRR 8182, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Jude Bentley, a former national cyclist. It is further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he drove the motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level was 85 micrograms, above the legal limit. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges. In relation to the causing-death charge, Best, an executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), pleaded not guilty and was ordered
Former GDF Chief-of-Staff Gary Best
to post $500,000 bail. In relation to the charge of driving under the influence, he was released on his own recognisance (self-bail). As a condition of bail, Best was ordered to report to the Police Force’s Traffic Headquarters on specified dates until the completion of his trial. Bentley, 41, was struck down and run over by the vehicle allegedly driven by Best on Clive Lloyd Drive near the Russian Embassy turn in Georgetown.
Dead: Jude Bentley
Reports are that, at the time of the accident, both Best and Bentley were travelling in an easterly direction. Investigators found that Best was driving under the influence of alcohol. After the accident, Best was taken into custody, but later complained of feeling unwell. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted. Best is a former Presidential Advisor under the David Granger Administration.
During this coming weekend, the testing unit would be at the Grove Health
Centre, EBD. On Saturday and Sunday, testing will commence at 09:00h. A schedule has been drawn up for communities that most need testing, and that schedule will be published once it has been finalised. “We have also worked out a schedule where, on a periodic and, ad hoc basis, we’ll be sending these units into other regions and other communities to get a sense of what is going on in these areas. So that would be an ongoing process from now on,” the Minister added. Minister Anthony is encouraging Guyanese who feel they have been exposed to the disease to take full advantage of the opportunity to get tested.
Top Cop commends injured Policemen for bravery
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op Cop Nigel Hoppie, along with senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force, on Tuesday visited Lance Corporal Bertland Scotland who was stabbed several times about his body by a wanted man during a confrontation at One Mile, Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini) in September. During the visit, Commissioner Hoppie commended the Lance Corporal for his bravery in the face of danger, and reassured him of the Force's commitment to his welfare and personal development. On September 14, Lance Corporal Scotland, who is attached to the Port Kaituma
Lance Corporal Bertland Scotland receiving hampers from the GPF
prehend the suspect, who was wanted in connection with the murder of pensioner Earl Peters, which occurred on September 5.
Top Cop Nigel Hoppie, along with senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force, chatting with Constable Amos Ramsingh at his home
Police Station, along with other ranks acting on information received, went to S1A Junction, One Mile, Port Kaituma, NWD, where they confronted the suspect, who was the occupant of the upper flat of a two-storey building. When the ranks attempted to apprehend the suspect, he reportedly whipped out a knife and stabbed Scotland to his left hand, left hip, left lower abdomen, left eyebrow and left buttock. The other ranks managed to ap-
The suspect was also wanted for wounding committed on Troy Roberts, who is presently admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital; and also for the wounding of Police Constable Edwards at Arakaka Police Outpost on August 20, 2020. After the stabbing, the injured Policeman was taken to the Port Kaituma District Hospital and was subsequently medevaced to Georgetown, where he was admitted in a critical condition. He has since been dis-
charged, and is currently at home recuperating. Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, Commissioner Hoppie visited Constable Amos Ramsingh, who was shot on October 5 at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown while arresting a suspect who was armed with a firearm. The Commissioner also used the opportunity to commend Constable Ramsingh for his incredible display of bravery in the line of duty, and reassured him of the Force's commitment to his welfare and development. Constable Ramsingh expressed sincere gratitude for the visit from the Commissioner and his team, and also for the token of appreciation for his hard work. Among the GPF officers that visited the injured ranks were Divisional Commander, Region 10, Superintendent Hugh Winter; Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Jewel Sullivan; Assistant Commissioner Simon Mc Bean, Commander of Regional Division 4 'A', Superintendent John Barker; Officer-in-charge of Sub-Division and Reverend Michael Singh, member of the Cops and Faith network.
