Nine of 18 COVID-19 samples recently tested by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), revealed that the Delta, Gamma and Alpha variants remain present in Barbados, Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George said.
At a press conference Sunday outlining Government’s response to the discovery of 40 positive coronavirus cases, he disclosed the results of the testing received two days ago from the Trinidad-based agency.
Dr George told journalists: “18 samples were tested, nine of those were the Alpha Variant, B.117; three of the samples were the Delta variant and three of the samples were the Gamma variant.
“What I would hasten to say is that based on the information that we have; those cases of Delta were imported cases. So, there is good reason to believe that the original first mutation that caused significant public health concern across the globe, which is B.1.1.7 [Alpha], that B. 1.1.7 is here In Barbados and that persons need to know that that variant is in our country.”
George further disclosed that three vaccinated travellers have tested positive for COVID-19.
He said: “So there have been three persons who have arrived in Barbados who have been previously vaccinated and have come to Barbados, and as part of protocols they have turned positive tests … and we are monitoring that situation.”
The Chief Medical Officer however made clear that vaccines offer much protection for those who contract the coronavirus and he urged Barbadians to get vaccinated.
(Barbados Today)
