Bahamas highly like to get the new COVID-19 variant: Dr Forbes

Bahamas: A local infectious disease expert thinks it is “highly likely” the new variant of COVID-19 would enter the Bahamas.

Dr. Nikkiah Forbes- Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, stated that as far as she is aware, The Bahamas has not yet named the new coronavirus variant in the country, but authorities are actively monitoring the situation.

This comes after Florida last week reported its first case of the more dangerous and 70 percent more infectious coronavirus variant, becoming the third US state to get the new variant of the infection.

More than 30 countries have already detected the new coronavirus variant to date, which was first reported in the UK.

Dr. Forbes asserted that the conditions are critical and it is very concerning, and it’s also only a matter of time before the Bahamas experiences a new virus strain, especially with people still traveling between the UK and the Bahamas.

“Well, as far as I know, we have not yet reported any cases of the new coronavirus variant so far, but as we can see, COVID-19 itself is a perfect example of how fastly these viruses that are highly contagious can enter in other countries and can be spread rapidly,” she stated.

“There are 33 countries at least that have reported the cases related to the new coronavirus variant, and with open travel, it is a concern to all nations. It’s highly likely that this new strain is going to enter off to several other countries, including The Bahamas.

She noted that the new coronavirus variant appears to be more transmissible and accounts for 60 percent of infections in London after being first identified in December 2020.

Forber emphasized that the vaccines are going to work on the new variant steps that might be taken by form officials if the country were to catch the new strain.