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Associate Professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Technology, Dr. Alverston Bailey, says the UK variant of COVID-19 could result in a spike in the local death toll if it becomes widespread in Jamaica.
Health authorities discovered four cases of the variant in Jamaica in December.
Dr. Bailey says if the spread of the variant is not monitored, Jamaica's fatality rate from COVID-19 could move to 3.2 percent per 100.
The rate is currently 2.3%.
Dr. Bailey expressed concern that persons who recovered from COVID-19 could still be susceptible to the new strains of the virus.
"A recent study in South Africa has revealed that that strain is resistant to anti-bodies from convalescent serums from patients recovering from COVID-19. This suggests that previously infected indidviduals may be susceptible to reinfection with news strains."
Dr. Bailey is calling for the country to "ramp-up our vaccination strategy" to improve the speed and scope of the vaccination programme.
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