Guyana’s coronavirus toll jumps to four

All ports of entry remain open but the Ministry of Public Health has assured that it is aiming to significantly ramp up its COVID-19 response efforts. This is in light of the Ministry’s confirmation of a second case of the novel coronavirus on Saturday.

It wasn’t long after, that this publication was advised that the country’s total coronavirus infection toll had jumped to four. The first case of the virus, which was confirmed on Wednesday, was that of a 52-year-old woman who recently travelled with family members from the United States.

She died the same day that that Ministry announced the confirmed case.

The three other confirmed cases, this publication has learnt, are the woman’s husband, her son and another relative. They are all said to be in full quarantine.

Self-quarantine has also been recommended for other family members who were in contact with those who tested positive. There are, however, reports that suggest that some of them have not been strictly adhering to the rules of quarantine. Although cautioned not to allow entry to one of the dead woman’s daughters, the woman arrived here a few days ago from the United States. She too was advised to selfquarantine. She had displayed symptoms of the disease.

According to Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Boyle, as many as 200 persons could have been exposed to the dead woman alone since her arrival in Guyana last weekend. Dr Boyle revealed that among those who have since been quarantined are 41 health workers who attended to the woman at the GPHC.

(Kaieteur News)