by Clive Bacchus
St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The British High Commission in St. John’s Antigua says there is no scientific evidence to determine that a new variant of COVID-19 originated in Antigua and Barbuda.
In a press statement this weekend, the High Commission expressed concern about “inaccurate media reports” following the announcement by Public Health England that two people who recently returned from Antigua and Barbuda had tested positive for a new variant of the COVID-19.
“… there is no scientific evidence to determine where this variant emerged. Giving variants a country’s name is inaccurate., unhelpful and can generate prejudices and misunderstanding”, The British High Commission said.
It added: All viruses mutate over time and since the start of the pandemic, many thousands of variants have been identified in the UK and across the world. The majority of variants emerge and subsequently become extinct as they stopped being passed on. This is assisted by testing, contact tracing, and isolation.
