By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Ministry of Health has detected its first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant of concern – a fully vaccinated woman who was somehow allowed to board a plane with a negative antigen test.
This was announced by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh at the ministry’s virtual Covid-19 update on Monday.
He said an investigation will be launched into how this case was able to reach the country in the first place.
Deyalsingh gave further details regarding the Omicron case saying that there were interesting details that have raised some concerns.
He said the person was on a flight originating in New York on December 9 and was allowed to board with a positive PCR test, travelled to Panama where a negative antigen test was received and then arrived in Trinidad last Thursday. The woman was fully vaccinated, Deyalsingh said.
The TTravel Pass authorities a fully-vaccinated person to enter Trinidad and Tobago only with a negative PCR test.
The sample for the Omicron case was sent to the University of the West Indies lab on Saturday and results were received late on Sunday, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology at UWI Christine Carrington said at the conference.
“Luckily, our Trinidad port health picked up that this person was allowed to board with a positive PCR test… The last check and balance at Piarco worked,” Deyalsingh said and praised the workers for doing due diligence in detecting the suspicious case.
He said he also spoke with the Ministry of National Security and the person and the airline should be held liable.
Information about the individual and the airline will be shared with the Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds to forward to the relevant authorities in T&T and the US and if charges are to be laid, it will be done in accordance with the Public Health Regulations.
“We take this very, very seriously,” Deyalsingh said.
The individual is currently isolated in a step-down facility and 14 persons who were seated nearby on the aircraft, while having negative PCR tests, have all been quarantined as a precautionary measure. They were also tested for Covid-19.
Deyalsingh added what was interesting was that the individual travelled knowingly with a positive PCR test and was allowed to do by the airport and airline authorities.
He said the dreaded variant has spread to 57 countries in less than a month and layered with the Delta variant can have serious consequences for the people of T&T.
Deyalsingh made another appeal for persons to get vaccinated and to adhere to all health and safety protocols especially during the Christmas season and now with the presence of two very transmissible variants of the Covid-19 virus in the population.
