By Chantalé Fletcher
OMICRON ( B.1.1.529), the fifth variant of concern of the Covid-19 virus, maybe more transmissible than the Delta variant.
This according to Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology at the University of the West Indies Christine Carrington during the Ministry of Health virtual press conference on Saturday.
Prof Carrington said, “Scientists in South Africa noted that Omicron was heavily mutated. They also suspected that it was more transmissible than Delta which was predominant at that time.”
She said Omicron was first detected on November 24 in South Africa where several cases were detected in samples since November 11, but the earliest sample was taken from Botswana on November 9.
Prof Carrington said, “It was also detected in travellers entering Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium from South Africa and by extension Malwai and Egypt.”
She said the variant had 32 mutations in its spike chain of which ten were in the receptor-binding domain.
Prof Carrington said, “Several of the mutations found in Omicron were found in other variants of concern, wherein those variants of concerns were associated with decreased transmission and reduced vaccine sensitivity. However, the role they play in Omicron still had to be confirmed but studies were underway.”
In relation to Trinidad and Tobago, she added that it was not detected in the country but similar to other variants, it was only a matter of when it will arrive.
Prof Carrington said, “If Omicron spreads faster than previous variants as suspected, it wouldn’t be too long before it spreads around the globe and T&T will become vulnerable, as the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that with the variant, there was an increase risk of re-infection by Omicron when compared to other variants of concern.”
New Travel Restrictions
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said the were travel restrictions for persons travelling from Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, which came into effect from midnight on Friday.
In a release from the Ministry of Health on Friday, effective from midnight, all non-national of Trinidad and Tobago who visited the listed countries above within a 14-day time period of their arrival in Trinidad and Tobago will not be allowed entry into the country at this time.
However, nationals who have visited those countries, within a 14 day time period of their arrival in Trinidad and Tobago, will be allowed entry but they will be required to undergo mandatory state-supervised quarantine of no less than 14 days.
It noted, “The public is advised that the traveller will be required to bear all associated costs and therefore should make the necessary arrangements prior to travel. This applies to both vaccinated and non-vaccinated nationals travelling from the countries listed previously,”
In addition, Deyalsingh responded to a question on the new travel bans in regard to the Under 19 World Cup in 2021.
He stated the Omicron poses a new threat to T&T and the world
“So, we have to respond and balance all of these things, as the Trinidadians returning here will work with their respective agencies as it was our national duty to see what arrangements could be made for them.”
He also added that the same arrangements would be applied to other teams through the Ministry of Sport and other governing bodies.
