January 2, 2021

New Covid Strain Reaches Jamaica, Tufton Reveals

By Newsroom

Four travelers who landed in Jamaica from the UK on  on December 21 have been confirmed as having the new strain of the Covid-19 virus. 

Jamaica’s Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton broke the news on Saturday night.

He further explained that the samples have been submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for further testing.

Jamaica was among the first Caribbean countries to join in restricted flights from the UK, after a new strain of the coronavirus was reported by scientists there.

Three flights which were already en route to the island were, however, permitted to land in the country.

The ban remains in effect until January 31st in the first instance.

Given the passengers had been quarantined and tested on arrival, Dr. Tufton said there was no indication at this time that the strain was a threat to the community.

The four cases are among 20 positives recorded from the flight- the other 16 have been deemed to be the original strain of the virus. 

“We are monitoring- we are learning as we go along. To date, the evidence is not so damning that one should feel more threatened, except of course that it (the new strain) spreads more rapidly,” the Jamaican Health Minister said.

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