MOH confirms two more cases of the Delta Variant in T&T

The Ministry of Health has confirmed two additional cases of the COVID-19 Delta Variant of Concern.
Trinidad and Tobago now has confirmed five cases of the COVID-19 Delta Variant to date.
The fourth and fifth patients recently returned to Trinidad from the United States and Guyana respectively.
Via a release the Health Ministry informed as per existing quarantine protocols, both persons provided negative PCR tests (which were taken 72-hours prior to arrival).
As a result of their positive COVID-19 results from swabs taken after arrival, both patients were isolated at a State step-down facility.
The patients will remain in isolation until they meet the enhanced discharge criteria for persons with COVID-19 Variants of Concern.
The release noted, the presence of the Delta Variants were confirmed via gene sequencing at the laboratory of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies.
Research has suggested that the Delta Variant is more easily spread from person to person, as compared to previous variants (estimated to be 2 to 4 times more transmissible than the original Wuhan lineage of the virus).
Additionally, evidence indicates that individuals who have contracted this variant may be prone to an increased risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
This variant may also lead to an increase in cases of COVID-19 in younger age groups and in those who have been previously infected.