THE presence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in Guyana was recently confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Providing an update on the 20 samples that were sent for testing, he revealed that 19 were positive for Omicron. The samples were sent for genetic sequencing in order to determine what COVID-19 variant was circulating in the country.

Speaking during Wednesday’s edition of the COVID-19 update, the health minister stated that authorities were expecting the samples to be positive for Omicron.
He said that one sample was listed as undetermined as it reportedly did not have enough genetic material to be sequenced.

These results come almost two months after local health officials had expressed suspicion that the Omicron variant was present here due to the surge in cases being reported along with the clinical presentation of those COVID-19 patients.

In January, the health minister had said that just around 50 samples were selected to be shipped to CARPHA for sequencing. The samples were selected from tests done subsequent to December 28, 2021.