No Covid variant found in samples sent to CARPHA

– We will not decrease vigilance, we will continue to monitor

– Minister Anthony

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony says the 10 Covid samples sent to the   Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to determine whether any mutations of the disease is present in Guyana have returned negative.

The Minister made this disclosure during his COVID-19 update on Thursday.

“Last night CARPHA informed us the 10 samples that we sent to them, that they have been able to complete the gene sequencing and they haven’t found any of the new variants found in the UK, in South Africa and neighbouring Brazil,” the Minister said.

Dr. Anthony added that while this is welcomed news, the public must continue to adhere to the preventative measures.

“That does not mean that we have to decrease our vigilance, we still have to continue taking samples and sending them out,” he said.

The Ministry submitted the 10 SARS-CoV-2 samples to CARPHA last month for gene sequencing after technicians at a private laboratory in Guyana said they had observed inconsistences in those samples. In an earlier interview, Minister Anthony had explained that gene sequencing is a very complicated testing process, but that the Government would ensure that every report of inconsistencies is recorded and sent for further testing. Gene sequencing enables laboratories to rapidly identify SARS-CoV-2.