Ministry of Health issues statement on Omicron variant

In light of the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has assured the public it will continue to review its COVID-19 protocols and update where necessary as it seeks to keep the population as safe as possible.

In a statement, the Ministry noted it has been tracking the global emergence of Omicron, which has been declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as of November 26th, 2021.

It says the variant has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves – for example, on how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or the effectiveness of prior infection. Internationally, there are several studies under way to understand the significance of this new variant.

In addition, the Ministry notes that the WHO has stated that preliminary evidence suggests that people who have previously had COVID-19 could possibly become reinfected more easily with Omicron.

The Ministry of Health however has reminded the public that all variants of COVID-19 can lead to severe disease or death, particularly for those who are most vulnerable and preventative behaviour is therefore always recommended.

It has urged the public to continue to be as cautious and careful as possible, and use preventative measures, such as physical distancing, frequent hand-washing and sanitising, and the correct wearing of masks. The Health Ministry also strongly recommends consideration of the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19.

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