Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie - file photo
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Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie
The Ministry of Health says it is in discussion with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to test samples taken from passengers who arrived from the UK on Monday for the new variant of COVID-19.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie told Radio Jamaica News that CARPHA is partnering with the University of the West Indies in Trinidad to start genetic sequencing on the samples.
Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said the samples will be sent to CARPHA only if they test positive for COVID-19.
Jamaica's borders were closed on Monday to flights from the UK where the new strain of COVID-19 has been detected.
In a subsequent interview on Wednesday on Power 106, Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said about 293 passengers who arrived from the UK on Monday were tested.
She said the ministry is awaiting the results.
Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said Ministry of Health teams are also paying close attention to people who arrived from the UK before Monday.
"So what we have done in light of this, we have re-alerted...our medical officers of health to look again at their list of persons, see the arrivals from the United Kingdom, ensure that they are closely monitored, and of course, early testing for those that develop symptoms," she revealed.
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