Health Minister, Dr. Irving McIntyre, has said that the government is awaiting a response from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to determine whether the Omicron Variant of Covid-19 is present in Dominica.
“What happens normally when we get positive cases we send these positive cases to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Then CARPHA refers these cases to the University of the West Indies in Jamaica (Mona),” Dr. McIntyre stated in an interview with the media during a tour undertaken by the Prime Minister and other government ministers last week.
He said that’s where sequencing of the positive cases takes place and it is determined which variant is present.
“We are awaiting a response from CARPHA to find out whether it is Omicron or not,” Dr. McIntyre stated. “It is very likely that it could be, because obviously the rest of the Caribbean is impacted by Omicron…”
He added, “It is something we are waiting on, something we are monitoring and we will definitely keep you informed as the information comes along.”
Dr. McIntyre revealed that up to December 2021, all cases sent for sequencing came back as Delta.
As at Monday 31st January 2022 Dominica recorded 810 active Covid-19 cases and 51 Covid-related deaths.
So far, the country has recorded a total of 9387 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
While Prime Minisiter Skerrit has made it clear that he does not intend to make vaccination mandatory in Dominica, the government continues to pursue a very aggressive vaccination campaign in the fight against the dreaded virus.
He’s baaaack!, When the country needed you, you secretly went on your private businesses. Now you are back with nothing new to say except that you are awaiting information. So you believe that the Omicron variant is scared of Dominica and Dominicans. With the rate at which it transmitted by now had you been at the wheel you would have been able to report the facts to the nation. It’s since just before December that Omicron variant was spreading like wildfire. Doc you could be a spinner for the West Indies team by the way you try to spin away from your ineptitude.
Mcintyre a you serious .
The fact that we’re still sending specimens to anywhere outside of Dominica for testing, shows how wanting and negligent this entire outfit, masquerading as a government is. When will this government get it? If not during this current pandemic, then when? This latest variant has been in existence since November 2021 and only now we’re still waiting to find out if it’s present in Dominica. Shocking and sad simultaneously.
I agree but you must also understand that skerrit and the rest of the leaders have an agenda. And skerro chose to abide by their rules otherwise he cranana he chose to sacrifice the people…he knows that when the majority gets vaccinated he has his payment up front at the cost of our health. To hell with whatever damage the vaccine may do to us and worse those who have already died. We have too much natural remedies here, promote our herbalists..you want to give us white man medicine. Stupes..that’s not for us. And skerrit know that but money in his head..his prize in the making if he gets the population to jab. Otherwise they Gan bowl him out
Really? So when a person tests positive not only does the entire health district of Dominica gets to know that but the “Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Then CARPHA refers these cases to the University of the West Indies .in Jamaica” to? Awa there is a secret reason behind all this talala. No wonder government ministers refusing to go for covid test? If they or their loved ones feel they have covid they just simply stay home and never go for a covid test. Well not me again with that covid test thing. I now going to do just like my parl rep. Thanks for the info doc
Joke that man? So all you dont know if is Omnicron, Delta or whatever, yet Skerrit has jumped on radio to announce school going to open soon and even announced the phases and how many days a week the reopening of schools will have to follow? Seems like after 22 years these jokers still joking with us? Boy, dont tell me Skerrit threw that out just to play on our emotions since carnival coming and soon he bringing down big name gospel artist.
Seriously, who cares?
I know right. If you get sick you get sick. what does it matter what variant it is. They probably just want to use that as an excuse for why people fully vaccinated still getting sick. Oh its the omicron and the vaccine doesn’t work against the omicron right?
Since omicron is not manufactured in a factory in Dominica, it must be imported. Based on the current regulations for entry into Dominica, we can reasonably conclude that most likely, it won’t be an unvaccinated person, who has entered Dominica legally, that will introduce omicron into the local population.
Why?
An unvaccinated & vaccinated person can travel to Dominica on the same plane with negative results, both do another test upon arrival which yields negative covid results, yet the negative unvaccinated person is sent to 6-7 day costly quarantine (with another test done on Day 5) while the negative vaccinated person is released immediately from airport into society (no quarantine) despite the authorities knowing FULL WELL that ‘vaccinated’ persons can catch & spread covid and experience varying ranges of symptoms just as unvaccinated persons.
This is an ABSOLUTE FARCE!!! Phew!!!
No wonder some people are pondering whether it is a racket that is going on.
Mr Minister, you don’t need confirmation by CARPHA to confirm the presence of omicron here. The mere fact that omicron is currently the prevalent variant affecting countries the world over and the significant increase of cases here is an indication that we do have the omicron. If the two french territories on either side of us have confirmed the presence of omicron and there’s a free flow of persons to and from these islands then it is quite natural for omicron to be here as well. We can only be grateful that omicron is not as deadly as the previous variants in terms of costing lives but you just have to keep reminding people of the protocols and getting vaccinated and boosters etc.
Essentially government has given up on covid19 fight and “appears to be” more focused on herd immunity. While this has not be said or proclaimed by anyone from the government, one can clearly tell chou-nou-toute-patay accordingly.
Now they so don’t give a dam that they have approved all kinds of fete for them and the cabalists but want the villages by and large to remain fete free. It’s like covid is only present in the villages. Well sah, if they really looking for herd immunity them they sure will be closer to their goals after carnival because monkey will see and monkey will do. Mark my words! Baccanal will sure be in the villages too.
And Doc, please sir, we love you so STOP being a stooge and grow some big stones down there like Mia Motley…..you know darn well Omnicron is already in Dca. So long that variant around only now you waiting on UWI to answer?
. I laugh so hard that my stones hurting 
If only the government would pursue “very aggressive precautionary measures” in addition to – or as an option to – vaccination.