Trinidad and Tobago has recorded its first case of the UK variant of Covid-19.

In a release from the Ministry, it said the patient is a national who was recently repatriated from the UK.

As per existing quarantine protocols, the national provided a negative PCR test which was taken 72-hours prior to departure from the United Kingdom. Upon arrival in Trinidad and Tobago, the national was immediately placed in state quarantine, in a single room.

The patient was transferred directly to an isolation area at the Couva Hospital and Multi-training Facility once the positive COVID-19 result was confirmed.

The presence of the variant was confirmed via a gene sequencing study at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, which has been testing COVID-19 positive samples collected since September 2020.

The population is reminded that previously, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago updated its quarantine protocols for retuning nationals from the United Kingdom from 7 days to 14 days state quarantine. This protocol will continue to be implemented and returning nationals from all other high-risk countries will be subject to 7 days state quarantine and 7 days home quarantine.

Members of the public are asked to note that research has suggested that this strain of  COVID-19 is more easily spread from person to person than previous strains (estimated to be  50% more transmissible). 

The Ministry of Health will host a virtual conference tomorrow, Friday, at 11:00 am to provide the public with additional information.