COVID-19 easier to catch with new strain; senior medic assesses severity

Barbados’ top public health official has moved to reassure the public amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, emphasising that while the strain is spreading more rapidly, it does not appear to cause more severe illness than earlier versions of the virus.

Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Leslie Rollock said a newly detected COVID-19 variant is more transmissible but does not appear to be more severe.

In a press briefing at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) regional headquarters on Dayrells Road, Dr Rollock provided an update on the nature of the evolving coronavirus strain and its potential impact locally.

She said: “As you would be aware, the coronavirus that caused COVID-19 is continually changing. It is becoming more and more transmissible, easier to pass from person to person. This new variant that has been discovered is, of course, more transmissible, but in itself it is not more virulent.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated the new strain, NB.1.8.1, as a ‘variant under monitoring’ amid concern about the sharp rise in cases.

Dr Rollock explained that while the virus is spreading more easily, especially in the United States—a major source market for Barbados—the illness it causes is not necessarily more dangerous than previous variants such as Delta. However, she warned that because more people are likely to contract it, those who are medically vulnerable remain at greater risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalisation.

“It’s not because of the virulence of the virus; it’s because of the state of the person who would have got it,” she explained.

The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring developments abroad, especially in countries with high travel volumes into Barbados, particularly during the summer season, she said. Given the uptick in cases in the US, health authorities expect that this new strain could eventually reach Barbados.

Dr Rollock said: “For the average person, it is not an issue, but what we usually advise is that those who are more vulnerable—if you have a vulnerable person in your house and you have a cough, cold, runny nose—when you have interactions with them, you wear a mask. When you’re going out and you don’t know who you’re going to meet, you try to do your normal cough etiquette: cover your coughs and your sneezes, wash your hands and keep your unwashed hands from your eyes, your nose and your mouth.

“This new virus by itself is not an issue because it is not as virulent as Delta was. It’s coming down to the point that it might be for us like the common cold, but you know the common cold can cause severe disease in those who are vulnerable. So that’s where we are at with respect to this new variant.” (SB)

What we know about 

the new COVID-19 variant

• The WHO has classified NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring” as of May 23. This indicates that the variant is being closely observed due to concerns about increased transmissibility and potential impact on health systems.

• It is showing signs of increased transmissibility.

• Over 91 000 COVID-19 cases were reported globally between April 14 and May 11.

• The variant has already been detected in 22 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America.

• Some regions are seeing rising hospital admissions.