Even as it remains focused on managing the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, President Dr. Irfaan Ali disclosed during a press conference this afternoon that authorities here are monitoring another variant called IHU which emerged in France.
International reports note that the B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection in France where researchers believe that it contains 46 mutations. This is more mutations than the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Ali told the citizenry via a virtual press briefing in an effort to simmer mounting concerns that the government is putting all necessary mechanisms to avoid being caught off guard while stressing that the focus for the time being remains “balancing and managing Omicron based on all the evidence we are seeing.”
While there are no confirmed samples as yet of Omicron in Guyana, based on the alarming spikes and symptoms of recent cases, the government believes that the new variant is here.
For today, Guyana recorded over 780 cases while yesterday saw over 450. These are the highest daily recordings since the virus hit in March 2020.
Additionally, the government said the Delta variant is present and remains a cause for concern but warned that Omicron, at this rate, will soon become the dominant variant.
