TRINIDAD & TOBAGO HAS OFFICIALLY DETECTS ITS FIRST CASE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT

By a Staff Reporter: According to Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh on Monday’s Ministry of Health Media Briefing, their first case of the Omicron variant is imported and should not have been allowed to enter the country due to a positive test prior to entry. He says Port Health officials were able to detect a variant of concern on the person upon arrival.

Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the person, who is vaccinated, travelled from New York to Panama with a positive PCR test and was allowed to fly to Trinidad and Tobago with a negative antigen test. Notably, PCR tests are the only approved type of test for entry into T&T.

Minister Deyalsingh stated that relative information will be sent to the Ministry of National Security to investigate why the passenger was allowed to board the flight with a positive test result. He said the person was placed into isolation at a step-down facility. He further claimed that the Republic’s health protocols put in place worked, whereas the screening in New York did not.

Minister Deyalsingh further encouraged the population to utilize the vaccines that are readily available, in fear of a new wave of the Virus that could surge over the country, especially during the Christmas season where there are gatherings and no state of emergency.