Caribbean health authorities on high alert for new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1

 

Caribbean health authorities are on high alert for the new COVID-19 variant following its detection in one of the region's highest source markets, the United States.

 

The NB.1.8.1 variant has been spreading through 22 countries, including the US, UK and Australia. 

 

As a number of deportees return to Jamaica following hardline immigration policies by the Donald Trump administration, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says routine monitoring of the country's ports of entry remains robust.

 

"We have always maintained a level of alertness in tracking new threats, including COVID, and new variants in this instance. And so the health team would monitor, port health would be on alert - this is all the ports of entry. But I have received no reports of any case or any major cause for concern. But in terms of the monitoring, yes, it's an ongoing activity. And the new threats like this case is one that we would be aware of and would continue to monitor," he noted.

 

Further across the region, Guyana's Ministry of Health issued an advisory on Thursday, urging members of the public to take all necessary precautions amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant. 

 

The ministry has heightened its monitoring activities following the detection. 

 

St. Lucia and Barbados are also on high alert for the new variant, which is said to be more transmissible. 

 

The World Health Organization has officially classified the NB.1.8.1 as a variant under monitoring due to a notable global increase in COVID-19 cases, including within the Caribbean region.