COVID deaths near 600

… over 71 percent of deaths occurred in 2021

COVID-19 deaths in Guyana now near 600 as the toll rose to 591 on August 20, 2021, with this year accounting for over 400 deaths or over 71 percent of the total deaths.

Region Four continues to account for the majority of COVID-19 deaths and has also recorded the most cases at over 10,000. The prevalence in cases is followed by Region Three at over 2,800 and Region Nine with over 2,100.

For the year thus far, the number of COVID-19 related deaths per month are as follows: January – 13; February – 20; March – 36; April – 66; May – 98; June – 80; July – 68 and 44 as of August 20.

The most recent figures are coupled with the notice of 111 new cases as of August 20 with 16 persons in the COVID-19 ICU. There are also 100 persons in institutional isolation, 1,088 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine.

There was also the death of another teenager — a 17-year-old male from Region Four who died on August 16, 2021.

On the other hand, the Government’s vaccination efforts are continuing. Almost 300,000 persons have been vaccinated with their first dose while over 152,000 are fully vaccinated.

“Our vaccines, we know, work. Vaccines are safe; they are protective, and the evidence we have had so far is that people who are fully vaccinated are not going to get the more severe form of the disease, or end up in the ICU, or dying from COVID,” Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony has stated.