BREAKING: Omicron confirmed in Antigua and Barbuda

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PRESS RELEASE – SARS CoV-2 Variants of Concern Update – January 6 2022

 

The Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment has received confirmation

from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) of the omicron variant strain

of the SARS CoV-2 in Antigua and Barbuda.

 

While Ministry of Health officials have  suspected the presence of Omicron in Antigua and Barbuda, this is the first certified confirmation of the variant’s presence.

 

The omicron variant of concern (VOC), first identified in South Africa in November

2021, was found in a set of samples sent to CARPHA in December 2021. The delta

variant of concern, first identified in Antigua and Barbuda in July 2021, was identified in the other samples.

 

The omicron variant is identified by multiple spike protein mutations. Experts

believe that it is more transmissible than other VOCs. However, it may cause

more less severe disease, less hospitalizations and deceased intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths.

 

The World Health Organization has so far confirmed five variants of concern

circulating globally. Antigua and Barbuda has been sending samples to CARPHA

for genomic sequencing to detect variants since October 2020. As a result of the

Ministry of Health’s increased surveillance, all five VOCs have now been identified

in Antigua and Barbuda.

 

The public is reminded that after a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases since

the end the last surge in November 2021, we are now seeing an increase in the number of cases. This reinforces the fact that we must continue to adhere to the public health measures to prevent and control the disease. These include physical and social distancing, using face masks and practicing hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

 

The public is further reminded that vaccination is one of the most effective measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons are therefore urged to get fully vaccinated and get their boosters utilizing the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines readily available at our vaccination  centres in the Multipurpose and Cultural Centre and the Villa Polyclinic.

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23 COMMENTS

    • @ Dot Brain . I kinda sympathize because with a name as a Dot and a Brain just as small it must feel like you’re stuck in an adult body .You can’t stop yourself with these nonsensical and asinine statements you just have to make.
      Nothing to do but play with your phone ?
      Why don’t you use your time on the internet to educate others and if there’s nothing to say don’t say nothing . Life with no purpose a true waste of space PUFF 💨

      • @ Really what did Concerned Citizen say that’s wrong ? What they said was exactly right
        Educated guess is that you’re one that took the vaccine.
        You guys get all jumpy and worked up when anyone say anything to the contrary of what you were fooled I mean told .

  1. Like they happy it here well desperate bad anyways about to read a very old news paper via the internet the headline states… BILL GATES… DEPOPULATION BY FORCED VACCINATION .. I’ll back to you guys with the info

  2. Sadly, a virolant parting gift from the fully-vaxxed after their Christmas & New Years celebrations on our beautiful country.

    Sadly, many of the critical thinkers in Antigua predicted that this would happen … but we were totally IGNORED!

    LET’S SEE HOW GASTON BROWNE IS GOING TO SPIN THIS ONE AND BLAME THE UNVACCINATED?

  3. – “Measles vaccine protects against becoming infected with measles.”
    – “The smallpox vaccine was the first vaccine to be developed against a contagious disease.”
    – “Mumps vaccines are vaccines which prevent mumps.”
    – “A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine INTENDED to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19).”
    Source: Wikipedia

  4. Are they aware that the CDC is no longer recommending Johnson and Johnson because the side effects can no longer be ignored? Well, it’s not like J&J don’t have a history of paying large fines for killing people…

  5. I wondered who brought Omicron into Antigua? DID it drift across the Atlantic from South Africa into Antigua. Are the local citizenry going to be blamed for this? After all,the State of Emergency and Curfew were lifted about 2 weeks ago. In Barbados,I did read a story that if persons tested positive for Covid. Those persons cannot Vote in the upcoming Elections on January 19,2022.

  6. The unvaccinated are not travelling but the virus reach to our shore, how is this possible. I think I know the answer the vaccinated spread the virus and cause alot of mutations

  7. Can’t believe people really that lost first the news spread this shit in ure head on a regular flu season time all of a sudden we got new corona …your leaders have to follow white man orders all these governments are puppets to the elites …I know everyone aint this dumb to p
    Believe this shit ….remember they predict the Caribbean…do u know why they said this cause these mfers target you melanated people cause you are rebellious against vaccine ..you all better wake up and see the real truth …

  8. omicron circulating in europe before detected in south africa,omicron is here long time just by the explosion of new cases.It is a God sent though, no boosters shouls be administered against it. we need more of the natural immunity to come out of this Plandemic. Vaccines alone just not going to do that.Innate immunity is simply superior.

  9. SYMPTHOMS: Omicron varriant may cause cold like symptoms , mild infections with sympthoms resembling common cold.-headaches,sore throat , runny nose, fatigue ,frequent sneezing, mild fever, cough and loss of smell. body pain and night sweats.

    • From what I hear that’s way better than what the vax does to people. Even better, it actually leaves you with immunity to COVID.

  10. So how did it get here?

    Testing and vaccination does not work……..

    All travelers are vaxxed and tested and utilizing all the known protocols.

    So how did it get here?

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