27 deaths and 40 new COVID-19 cases

Region 4 accounts for 35% of the new COVID-19 cases recorded by the Ministry of Health. According to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, the country’s total confirmed cases has increased by 40.

Region 4 four leads with 14 new cases followed by Region 1 and 9 with eight new cases while region 6 has moved from having one case to now 6 news cases. Region 7 recorded 2 new cases while Regions 3 and 8 have 1 new case each. No new cases have been recorded for Regions 2, 5, and 10.

Guyana to date has recorded 776 positive COVID-19 cases. There is a total of 381 recoveries. Sixty-eight (68) persons are in institutional isolation while 298 persons are in home isolation. Deaths have climbed to 27, the latest victim being a 72-year-old.

Globally there is in excess of 21 million COVID-19 cases and more than 775,000 deaths. In South America, Brazil accounts for 3.3 million cases and some 108,000 deaths.

A 43-year-old woman is Guyana’s 26th COVID-19 related death

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll continues to rise and today the Ministry of Public Health announced the 26th death.
Now, this comes mere hours after the country recorded three COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, while the confirmed positives cases moved up to 737 as of  Tuesday, 18th, August.
A release from the Ministry of Health said the 43-year-old woman died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
The Ministry said the woman was a patient of the transitional ward at the GPHC, upon admission to the GPHC, a swab test was done on her and following her death, the results came back as positive.

The MOH said they are in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed.

The Ministry is asking that patient confidentiality be respected and that the families are allowed to mourn in peace.
On Wednesday, two males, ages ninety-three and eighty-seven died at the GPHC, while a thirty-two year old man died at the Bartica Hospital.

Members of the public are encouraged to observe the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES #8 published in the Official Gazette on 14 August, 2020 which emphasizes the need to practice physical distancing of being at least 6ft apart, use a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving their homes and to practice good hand washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Health Ministry expresses sincerest condolences to the families of these three persons and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to assist the families in dealing with the situation.
Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

Press Release on the Lusignan Prison Murder. Murder Weapons and additional 111 improvised weapons found during search

Remanded Prisoner Shawn Peters, age 4o, was attacked and injured by four (04) prisoners in Holding Bay 1 at about 22:50 hours on August 17, 2020. Prisoner Peters who was admitted to prison on August 3, 2020 charged for the offence “Larceny of Articles” was held in the isolation unit and was transferred to the Holding Bay on the afternoon of August 17, 2020. There he was identified and subsequently attacked by four (04) other prisoners with whom he had had altercations outside the prison walls.

 

 

The Officer in Charge reported that Peters was seen by medical staff at Lusignan and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. There he was seen by Doctors on duty and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I am advised he remained there in a critical condition and died at 10:45 hours on August 18, 2020.

Review of the CCTV footage from the location and as well as other CCTV footage obtained allowed the Administration to positively identify the perpetrators of the fatal incident.

A partial search of the Prison by Prison Officers unearthed the improvised weapons used in the stabbing and chopping, additional improvised weapons (111), and cellular phones (09). Improvised weapons are materials/items which have been converted by the prisoners into weapons for the sole purpose of maiming and threatening Officers and fellow prisoners.

The Guyana Police Force has been fully informed of the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

Gladwin Samuels, DSM
Director of Prisons

Three  COVID-19 deaths recorded, bringing the total now to 25

The Ministry of Health in a release to the media has confirmed that the COVID-19 related death toll has now climbed to 25. According to the Ministry’s release, two persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and a third who died while receiving care at Bartica Hospital and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

The patients who died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the GPHC were both males, ages ninety-three and eighty-seven. Up until their passing, the two were receiving expert care for the difficult complications associated with COVID-19.  The ministry said the patient who passed away at the Bartica Hospital, is a resident of Region One, but at the time of his hospitalisation was working in the mining community in the Cuyuni River, Region 7. This male, who is thirty-two years old was rushed to the hospital with suspicions of malaria, but was later swabbed because of his previous contact with other possible cases at his work site.

The MOH is in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed. The Ministry is asking that patients confidentiality be respected and the families be allowed to mourn in peace. Meanwhile, members of the public are encouraged to observe the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES #8 published in the Official Gazette on 14 August. 2020 which emphasises the need to practice physical distancing at least 6ft apart, using a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving  homes and practicing good handing washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Health Ministry expresses sincerest condolences to the family of these three persons and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to assist the families to deal with the situation.
Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

Guyana reports three more COVID-19 related deaths

The Ministry of Health in a media release stated that two other persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a third died while receiving care at Bartica Hospital and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. 

The patients who died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the GPHC were both males, ages ninety three and eighty seven. Up until their passing, the two were receiving expert care for their difficult complications associated with COVID-19. 

The patient who passed at the Bartica Hospital, is a resident of Region One but at the time of his hospitalisation was working in the mining community in the Cuyuni River, Region 7. This male, thirty two years old was rushed to the hospital with suspicions of malaria but was later swabbed because of his previous contact with other possible cases at his work site. 

The MOH is in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed. The Ministry is asking that patient confidentiality be respected and the families be allowed to mourn in peace. 

Members of the public are encouraged observe the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES #8 published in the Official Gazette on 14 August. 2020 which emphasises the need to practice physical distancing at least 6ft apart, use a facemaskcorrectly and consistently when leaving their homes and practice good handing washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Health Ministry expresses sincerest condolences to the family of these three persons and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to assist the families to deal with the situation.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

Lusignan Prison inmate dies following a jailhouse fight

Dead is 40yr old Aldryn Adonis  c/d Ehawn Peters. He was on remand for Simple Larceny. The murder was reportedly committed by four inmates from the said prison.

According to a police report, their initial investigation revealed that the deceased was in bay two, while the suspects were in bay one. On  Tuesday, August 17th about 22:30 hrs the victim jumped the fence which separates bay one from bay two during a heated argument between himself and the four suspects and a fight ensued between them which resulted in the victim receiving several chops about the head, chest,  hands and both feet.
The police said the victim was then taken to the medical outpost at the Lusignan prison, where he was medically examined by a prison medic on duty and subsequently escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was further examined by a doctor and admitted a patient in a critical condition.  The man succumbed to his injuries around 10:30h today.
The police investigations into the murder are ongoing.

Deputy Commissioner sent on 192 days leave

Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Williams today proceeded on 192 days annualised vacation leave which was owed to him.
The Guyana Police Force Public Relations Department made the announcement today.
Williams who is now 51yrs old is expected to be off the job until 24th February 2021. This newscast understands that the directive was given to the top cop to relate to Williams.
 It’s unclear who will act in Williams’  absence. Just recently, two of the four deputy commissioners appointed under the David Granger administration, Maxine Graham and Lyndon Alves retired.  A few weeks ago Commissioner of police Leslie James also proceeded on his pre-retirement leave. Since the new government took office several changes were made at the top brass of the force.

Farmer killed by his son

Dead is Collis Joseph of Ithaca, West Bank Berbice.

His 18 year old son is being sought by the police for the incident.

According to reports, the two were involved in a heated argument over a bicycle on Saturday and it spilled over to today when the father visited the young man’s home.

Police commander Edmond Cooper said the police’s initial investigations revealed that there was a cutlass pelting incident between the father and son and it was when the son pelted his cutlass that the fatal wound was inflicted. The dead man received a wound to his chest.

The commander said the victim was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injury.

The commander said his ranks are on the ground and with the help of residents they have commenced a search for the suspect.