Latest update November 1st, 2026 10:45 AM
Health officials on high alert as new COVID variant detected – Dr. Anthony
Kaieteur News- Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said on Saturday that health officials are on high alert as a new COVID variant has been detected. Dr. Anthony, in a comment to the Kaieteur News, said that precautionary measures are being taken given the global reports.
“There is a strain called NB 1.8.1 that is circulating, but this is in other countries, and we have seen in those countries that it has caused a slight increase in hospitalisation,” Dr. Anthony said.
In light of this, he stated that local hospitals and personnel are on alert and putting systems in place to check persons if they demonstrate symptoms of the virus.
“What we are doing is putting our system in alert and making sure they follow the protocol if people have symptoms, flu-like symptoms and they also check them for COVID,” he stated.
With the ports of entry to the country on alert, he said more precautionary measures are happening at the hospitals countrywide.
Meanwhile, a memo that was dispatched to the West Demerara Region Hospital in Region Three advised that a designated area should be established for any COVID-positive patients.
The document, which circulated on social media, stated, “Dear Supervisors, as you are aware, there has been a recent rise in COVID-19 cases. Please be informed that a designated area has been established adjacent to the Emergency Room to accommodate all stable COVID-19 positive inpatients, including prenatal mothers.”
Meanwhile, there have been reports circulating on social media that a case of the new variant has been detected in the country. However, the minister denied that, stating, “not true”.
With countries like China and the United States of America confirming cases of the new variant, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a May 23 release that “NB.1.8.1 has been designated a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring (VUM) with increasing proportions globally, while LP.8.1 is starting to decline.”
In March 2020, Guyana detected its first case of the COVID-19 virus, which has since killed over 1000 persons locally.
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