Guyana’s Health Ministry is upping accommodation capacity at hospitals as the country witnesses a surge in COVID-19 infections. With some 4,070 active cases in the country, 151 are hospitalised with 97 alone at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, and 36 in its Intensive Care Unit.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said today that the ‘COVID’ hospital, formerly the location of the Ocean View hotel, is undergoing expansion to cater for future spikes in infection.
“Our capacity at Ocean View is 204 patients, so we haven’t gotten to full capacity as yet. We’re hoping that we don’t have to be there. Nevertheless, we have been making some additional preparations if we have to go to that full capacity. Right now, on the second floor of the Ocean View hospital, we have just put in oxygen pipes…That work is going to be completed this week, so that the whole floor will have pipe oxygen. So, we’re preparing,” he said.
Additionally, the Minister said that works have already begun to erect field hospitals. This mode of healthcare delivery will cater to about 60 persons, he noted.
Meanwhile, the Ministry is looking at expanding the capacity at the regional hospitals.
“We have inspected West Demerara Regional Hospital, and we know that we can increase from its current state to manage close to 40 patients over there. Similarly, we’re looking at Suddie [Hospital, Region Two], Region Ten, Region Six, and the Mahaicony Hospital (Region Five). More recently, we have looked at Region Nine. We’ve added an ICU component in the Lethem Hospital, where we have six beds…So, we have been building capacity and hopefully, we won’t need it, but we’re preparing nevertheless.”
