Officials monitoring Omicron subvariant as it surges elsewhere

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is closely monitoring the new Omicron subvariant that is causing a surge in COVID-19 cases throughout parts of Asia and Europe, Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville said yesterday.

The new variant is also impacting the United States with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that roughly 35 percent of the US’ cases are the result of the variant.

When asked if the government is concerned about the variant, Darville replied, “Our team at the Ministry of Health is watching exactly what is going on in China, (other parts of) Asia as well as Europe.

“Our job is to monitor. As we monitor, we will take into consideration what’s happening, particularly the possibility of it now spreading to the United States, coming through California and the list goes on and on. So we’re watching it very closely.”

The Bahamas is experiencing a lull in COVID-19 cases after battling an intense fourth wave, which officials believe was fueled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Between December 20, 2021, and January 20, 2022, nearly 8,800 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in The Bahamas – the most cases confirmed in The Bahamas during any wave since the pandemic started in March 2020.

The fourth wave began to die in late January.

In the weeks that followed, the Ministry of Health confirmed mostly single-digit cases daily.