A preliminary study by the Ministry of Health in Guyana found that non-communicable diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure were the leading causes in people who succumbed to COVID-19.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony announced today that a study of 202 of the more than 455 deaths found that more than 30% of patients who died had high blood pressure while 28% were diabetic.
Other comorbid conditions that may have contributed to the COVID deaths include kidney disease and heart disease.
In its study of the 202 deaths, the Ministry of Health also found that 36.6% of these people were Afro-Guyanese, while 28.2% were Native Americans and 23.3% were Indo-Guyanese.
11.4% of COVID deaths have been identified as multiracial.
The Minister of Health said it was very important that people get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19.
He said that no fully vaccinated person with COVID-19 has been hospitalized and no death of a fully vaccinated person has been recorded.
The Ministry of Health also fears that the number of vaccinations will slow down.
Dr. Anthony said the trend was first noticed during the recent floods across the country, but the number has not improved since then.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health also announced today that the government has completed payment for Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine and is expecting delivery shortly.
When the vaccine arrives, it will be the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to be administered in Guyana.
