UK covid19 variant recorded again in Trinidad and Tobago

A second case of the UK variant of the covid19 virus – B117 – has been recorded by the Ministry of Health.

The announcement was made by principal medical officer in the ministry Maryam Abdool-Richards during its virtual press conference on Monday.

She said the patient is a recently repatriated national from the US.

“This person is currently receiving medical care in the parallel healthcare system and has been isolated,” she said.

The first record of the variant in Trinidad and Tobago was in January in a repatriated national from the UK. The patient has since recovered.

Five cases of the variant were detected on April 2 among foreigners aboard a ship. Samples were sent to UWI for genetic sequencing on March 23 and the ship left the following day.

The ministry said foreigners were not allowed to disembark from the vessel because of national quarantine protocols.