Health Ministry ‘monitoring situation’ as new COVID variant emerges

Guyana’s Ministry of Health issued an advisory on Thursday afternoon, urging members of the public to take all necessary precautions amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant.

See below the full release from the Ministry of Health: 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is urging the public to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions following a recent announcement from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the emergence of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, designated NB.1.8.1. 

The WHO has officially classified NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring” due to a notable global increase in COVID-19 cases, including within the Caribbean region. 

Current data suggest that symptoms associated with the NB.1.8.1 variant may vary between individuals. Commonly reported symptoms include: 

• Cough 
• Sore throat 
• Nasal congestion 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Headache 
• Fatigue 
• Shortness of breath 
• Diarrhoea 
• Loss of taste or smell (less common) 

In response, the MOH is advising the public to take the following steps to reduce the risk of infection: 

Practice good hygiene, including regular handwashing 

Seek immediate medical attention and testing if exposed to COVID-19 or if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with the virus 

The Ministry is continuing to monitor the situation closely in coordination with regional and international health authorities and will provide updates as new information becomes available.