The Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment has received confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) of two variant strains of the SARS CoV-2 in Antigua and Barbuda.
The alpha variant of concern, first identified in the United Kingdom, was found in thirteen positive samples taken in Antigua and Barbuda between February 14 and May 6 2021.
The beta variant of concern, first identified in South Africa, was found in two samples taken in Antigua and Barbuda between April 20 and 24 2021.
Both the alpha and beta variants are estimated to be more transmissible and possibly increase the death rate for COVID-19.
The alpha variant also needs a smaller viral load to cause infection.
The timing of these samples coincides with the increased number of COVID-19 cases seen in Antigua and Barbuda earlier this year.
The World Health Organization has so far confirmed four variants of concern circulating globally. Antigua and Barbuda has been sending samples to CARPHA for genomic sequencing to detect variants since October 2020 as part of a CARPHA/UWI project.
The Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment has also increased its surveillance for SARS CoV-2 variants at the laboratory at the Sir Lester Bird Mount St. John’s Medical Centre which now has the capacity to detect SARS CoV-2 variants.
The public is reminded that although there are no active cases on COVID-19 in the country at this time, the detection of SARS CoV-2 variants reinforces that we must continue to adhere to the public health measure 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 utilizing the safe vaccines readily available at our vaccination centers.
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Did anyone that died of COVID19 had any of these strains?
So people died and a Doctor said I was negligent in my duties it was my responsibility AND IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL?
When will he be charged for mal practice?
And he is still working?
What kind of banana Republic is this?
I like the Doc but that has nothing to do with his negligence…..
Strange enough that we’re hearing of these variants now.
My suspicion is that they new before and said nothing.
It does not take months to know what variants are spreading. Other countries when reporting mentioned the variants with present numbers they reported.
News…. We are now testing for variants here. Give me a break! I’m sure they just want to do more covering up as not to mention anything about the delta variant. Why? So we can never be thrown out of the green list.
His help us all!
Come on Slow is as slow have ALWAYS BEEN. Anyway lot’s of other new sources out there. ALL IS WELL IN Cartoon land AKA ANU
ameriKKKa is the biggest “cartoon land”!!!
Don’t kill to be one of those who sell out dem flag and run go ‘meriKKKa and then talk down and bad talk the land of their birth and then pretend to love Wadadli when it’s convenient for them.
@ Smh ITS DEFINITELY CARTOON LAND WHERE THINGS THAT FALL UNDER CERTAIN GOVT MINISTERS PORTFOLIO THEY REMAIN SILENT AND ONE MAN SPEAKS AND WEEKS LATER THEY MAGICALLY APPEAR . ATTORNEY GENERAL , MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND POLICE COMMISSIONER AKA KIDNAPPING ON ANTIGUA SOIL AND THERE’S MORE .THE MEDIA DOESN’T ASK HARD AND FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS . AT LEAST IN AMERICA SHIT ONLY HIDES FOR A TIME IT ALWAYS EVENTUALLY COMES OUT .
Do you folks really believed that Dashboard? That shows zero Covid-19 cases in Antigua and Barbuda. That Dashboard has a mind of its own. It operates in a different time zone to Antigua and Barbuda. One of these days it would surely catches up with the whole truth nothing but the truth. Remember,what happened with the Covid-19 deaths,in Antigua. They went from 32 to 42 in a blinking of an eye. Then those in authority did say. They had to do an audit. This Pandemic known to most as Covid 19 is not something to play with and or to lie about.Ask the CDC and or WHO.
You want people to ask the two agencies that telling the most lies about this for the truth?
I’ll give you an example…why would the CDC encourage people that were infected with the virus, and have recovered, to take the vaccine when they well know that that person has immunity to covid?
Example #2, why does the WHO and CDC allowing the cycle threshold for the PCR test to be more than 35…when them well know that anything about 35 is 97% fslse positive?
Example #3 Why is the CDC not counting breakthrough cases of covid 19 for vaccinated people if they don’t get hospitalized or die? Could it be that it’s to make it appear like the vaccines are working? I’ll leave it there for now.
Correction: anything above 35 is 97% a false positive.
This make any sense to us now ? They just keep looking reasons to justify their extended state of emergency
Alfa variant, beta variant, here, soon to have delta variant here from U K. So get your jab Antigua Barbuda, at least you 73% safe. It is coming.
What a coincidence the vaccine from China just arrived also to deal with that variant
All of these conspiracy theories and just plain ignorance! Don’t trust the Government? Then how about trusting SCIENCE?! If Covid doesn’t get you, your stupidity just might.
Can I say Wow, why I’m not surprised, people go do your research, start learning your Greek alphabet and the meaning behind this whole thing that don’t make sense. Then go and ask Gaston who brought it here? Dem government is so nasty with their filt that they are handing out their own badmind virus.
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