18 NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll now 190 …over 1800 persons receive 1st dose of vaccine
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he Health Ministry on Monday informed of another death from the coronavirus, taking the death toll to 190. On Sunday, a 63-yearold man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who had tested positive for COVID-19, succumbed while receiving treatment at a medical facility. Last Tuesday, a 69-yearold female from Region Four was reported as the 189th death from COVID-19 after she died while seeking care.
Also, on Monday, there were seven new cases in one day after 633 samples were sent for analysis. According to the Ministry’s dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases recorded in Guyana is now 8427 – 4362 males and 4065 females. The data showed that 7774 patients have recovered with 465 active cases. Eight persons are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 415 in home isolation and 41 in institutional isolation. Another eight persons are
also in institutional quarantine. To date, 60,727 persons have been tested.
New cases
From the new cases, one was detected in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 3 in Region Four and three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The breakdown of cases which were detected in Regions One (BarimaWaini), Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Five (DemeraraMahaica) and Six (East
Berbice-Corentyne), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) remained at 1019; 234; 226; 462; 245; 415 and 646.
Vaccine administration
It has been over one week since frontline workers started receiving their vaccines and Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said on Monday they are yet to exhaust these resources. This batch from the Barbadian Government was set aside to vaccinate 1400 healthcare workers. Thus far, over 1800 persons have been administered their first dose from all regions with the exception of Regions Eight and Nine. A team will visit these areas this week. “What we have been trying to do as much as possible is to identify those patients who are working directly with COVID-19 patients and to be able to give those persons the first preference. As of today, we have given out 1852 vaccines to different persons…We will be able to cover all the regions with healthcare workers that are directly working with COVID-19 patients.”
The subject Minister addressed an instance where a vaccine was administered to a person who is not a frontline worker, noting that an investigation is in full swing to take action and prevent any such breach in the future. He asserted, “There had been some leakages of our vaccine and we have investigation that is ongoing to find out that how it is that that person who came in and got a vaccine, who is not a frontline worker. That is a total breach of the protocols because the first set of people that we want to get vaccines are those that are most at risk.” The entire tranche will be used as a first dose and the incoming AstraZeneca vaccines from another batch will be used to supply the second shot. This is since
the interval between the two jabs is roughly 12 weeks, allowing enough time until more vaccines arrive. It was stated that a number of strategies were undertaken to acquire vaccines for Guyana. Presently, vaccines are expected from multiple sources and this can be realised in another week. “We have been talking to the COVAX facility and we’re expecting now that the WHO has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine, that very shortly we will be able to get vaccines from COVAX. We have also been in conversations with some other countries and those discussions are getting close to the end so once we have concluded those talks, we will start seeing vaccines coming out of those discussions or negotiations,” he informed. (G12)
Counsellor, cosmetologist, vendor charged for assault
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hree persons who were involved in separate assault matters all appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday to answer to the charge. Yvonne Charles, a 39-year-old counsellor of Charlotte Street, Georgetown, denied the charge read to her by Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs which stated that on February 7 at Camp and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she unlawfully assaulted Clive Atwell. She was granted $5000 bail and the case will continue on April 12. Also appearing before Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs to answer to an assault charge was a 34-yearold cosmetologist, Latoya Clarke.
Clarke also pleaded not guilty and was released on $5000 bail. The charge read to her stated that on February 17 at West Front Road, Georgetown, she unlawfully assaulted Mowella Forde. The matter has since been adjourned to April 9. Meanwhile, Andre Nedd, a 31-year-old vendor who hails from Mabaruma, Region One (BarimaWaini), was granted $10,000 bail by Magistrate Isaacs on a similar charge. The charge stated that on February 13 at Lombard Street, Nedd unlawfully assaulted Carl Duncan so as to cause him bodily harm. Nedd pleaded not guilty to the charge and the case will continue on April 9.
(G15)
