Tests confirm presence of UK COVID-19 variant in the Jamaican population

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has revealed that tests have confirmed the presence of the highly contagious UK variant of covid-19 in the Jamaican population after seven of  the samples sent for testing came back positive.

The samples were sent to the Trinidad & Tobago based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

Dr. Tufton said on Monday that the samples were from people who had no history of travel.

He said the vaccines being received by Jamaica are effective against the variant.

In December, four of the travellers on the last British flight to the island tested positive for the UK variant.