BVI News

More Mu and Delta COVID variants discovered in BVI

Four additional local samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad & Tobago have tested positive for the Mu variant.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronald Georges said the samples were collected between August 27 and 31. There was also one positive Delta variant sample.

“The Mu and Delta variants should be considered to be circulating in the territory and, of note, of samples typed over the last two batches only Mu and Delta variants have been identified,” Dr Georges said.

The Acting CMO further said that cases have been identified between both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. However, he said most cases did not require hospitalisation.

“There have been few cases requiring hospitalisation specifically for the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms and others who have been hospitalised for other reasons and happen to be COVID-19 positive over the period,” Dr Georges explained.

The Mu variant, first identified in Columbia, is now present in 58 countries worldwide.

It was first identified in the territory on September 5 when two samples tested positive. The Mu variant is currently classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, Dr Georges explained that the variant is said to have several mutations which indicate that it may be transmitted easily and have the potential for immune escape.

Meanwhile, the Delta variant is still being classified as a ‘variant of concern’ by WHO. The acting CMO said while the government continues to change protocols to stimulate economic activities, it is important that people take the necessary precautions and adhere to the measures put in place.

“All persons should therefore continue to adhere to all quarantine requirements to limit the spread of COVID-19 and all positive cases should ensure that they follow the isolation guidelines and continue to take every opportunity to get vaccinated,” Dr Georges said.

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8 Comments

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  1. You can do better says:

    Why west just getting this new a month after the fact?

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  2. Discrimination says:

    If it’s being found in both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated then why the unvaccinated being treated differently?
    #stopit

    Like 9
    Dislike 8
    • Listen closely... says:

      Because unvaccinated have a higher chance of becoming seriously ill, vaccinated do not. Vaccinated don’t want to make unvaccinated sick, unvaccinated don’t want to have a vaccination, unvaccinated will be treated differently to protect vaccinated and unvaccinated livelihoods. Nobody is out to get anyone, we are all in this together.

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
  3. Malone says:

    Zero tolerance for the lie, yall miss me with that bs. Variants falling out the sky now, the flu aint even as detrimental as the vaccine yall doing damage with, first lock down people stayed home for couple months only one lady die of a breathing issue which she had long before fake covid. Every body else recovered just by staying home, seems like when they reach hospitals them dying, not a soul dying of covid out the hospital,hmm, that uk money yall spending will never spend good.

    Like 8
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  4. Just in case you missed it says:

    Immune escape is basically the virus bypasses/outlasts the immune response and is passed on by the innoculated host

    Thats you vaccinated ppl.

    So now that you see it in the news, even tho ppl been saying this for months, I hope you get off your high horse and understand yours as big a threat of keeping this thing alive and thriving as everyone else

    Follow protocols. Keep Social distancing.

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  5. Hmm says:

    Not 1am to 5am cutfew ot need to be 9pm to 5am

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