National lockdown might be necessary for Jamaica if new Covid-19 variant is here - Guy

Opposition spokesman on health Dr. Morais Guy believes Jamaica may have to go into a national lockdown if it is determined that the new variant of Covid-19 is already in the country.

Accordingly, he has recommended the testing of all persons who arrived recently from the United Kingdom, to determine whether they might have brought this faster-spreading version of the virus into Jamaica.   

The government has announced that Jamaica's borders are being closed to flights from the UK for two weeks in light of the threat of the spread of the new strain.

Dr. Guy, who spoke Monday on Radio Jamaica’s Beyond the Headlines, said while the government has announced testing and quarantining of  persons who arrived on Monday, there should more extensive testing.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness has announced that 302 passengers, who arrived on a flight from the UK on Monday will be kept in state quarantine for a minimum of 48 hours.

Those travellers who test negative for Covid-19 will be released to complete their mandatory 14 day quarantine, while those who are positive will be isolated until they’ve recovered.

Flights cancelled

The Jamaican Government, in a late development on Monday evening, announced that the two British flights, which were scheduled to arrive in Jamaia on Tuesday, had been cancelled.

Earlier in the day the Ministry of Health & Wellness had said the flights would have been allowed under strict covid-19 guidelines, while all other UK flights would be suspended for two weeks.