Still no genome sequencing machine for COVID

Jamaica is yet to start genome sequencing to identify variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which may be in the island.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday that the machine, which Prime Minister Andrew Holness had announced in March that the Government would be seeking to purchase, is not in the island.

“We are getting equipment to test for various variant strains. It’s not yet in place, but we expect the strains to get here,” Tufton said yesterday.

The health ministry had previously confirmed the presence of the British variant of the virus in the island through samples sent to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency.

A travel ban was imposed on the United Kingdom and several South American countries due to concerns over variants.

Since then, several other variants of international concern have emerged, with some spreading more rapidly and causing more hospitalisations than the original form of the virus.

On Friday, it was announced that Jamaica could now identify international variants of the virus after 6,000 special polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were procured and handed over by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Bernadette Theodore-Gandi, PAHO/WHO Representative in Jamaica, said Jamaica was among the first countries in the Caribbean to receive the PCR test for volatile organic compound (VoC), which “will serve as needle-movers in the assessment of international strains of the virus and will support the local response to COVID-19”.

Meanwhile, health experts continue to reiterate that vaccination is the only hope to end the pandemic, which has claimed 3.7 million lives globally since last year.

Jamaica has offered a one-off $10,000 cash payment to boost vaccine take-up by the vulnerable groups, an initiative which Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke on Friday said was not in effect.

Tufton said the ministry is mulling over some new ideas to combat vaccine hesitancy. Among them would be free movement for fully vaccinated individuals and reduction in quarantine time.

Private sector companies are also proposing incentive measures for staff, the health minister said.