As the highly transmissible Delta COVID-19 variant continues to rear its head in countries worldwide, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is debunking the argument that the variant has already made its way to Jamaica’s borders.

According to Tufton, who spoke during Thursday evening’s (July 22) COVID Conversations, while it is possible that the variant could very well make its way to Jamaica in very short order, based on the weekly test samples, there has been no clear indication that the variant is currently here.

He stated: “We do not have any evidence of the Delta variant being here from the tests that have been done but these tests are ongoing. We send samples out every week and while there has been no confirmatory test, I am prepared to say that we should assume that the variant is here.”

He added: “I am prepared to say that because the probability of it being here is probably greater than it not being here based on the border access and the travel restrictions removal including coming from countries where the Delta variant is the dominant variant.”

The health minister shared similar views to those of Prime Minister Andrew Holness who while speaking in parliament earlier this week noted that while there had yet to be any confirmed cases of the variant in Jamaica, it would be wishful thinking to believe it would not soon make its way to the country’s borders.

The Delta variant is believed to be one of the most transmissible variants as far as COVID-19 strains go and has also proven to be a lot deadlier.

During a June press conference hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), top scientist Soumya Swaminathan noted that the variant had been on its way to achieving global dominance, as it is now present in over 90 countries worldwide.

With the heightened possibility that the variant will soon present itself in Jamaican COVID-19 cases, both Tufton and Holness have urged a strict adherence to protocols to mitigate the likelihood of a variant spread.

READ MORE:

• Holness warns of tightened COVID-19 measures as cases increase
• Delta COVID-19 variant gaining global dominance – WHO