Guyana on Thursday officially approved emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm, said Frank Anthony, the health minister of Guyana. 

Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was also registered in Guyana, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a statement.

Guyana President Ilfaan Ali announced that he would receive a batch of COVID-19 vaccine donated by China and encouraged people to get vaccinated.

The country has so far vaccinated about 2,000 health workers. It reported a total of 8,457 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 192 deaths as of Thursday.