Genomic surveillance introduced at Plaisance Airport

Health authorities have set up a protocol at Plaisance Airport to start using a process known as genomic sequencing to decode the genes in the viruses from positively tested travellers to screen potential vaccine-escape or new variants.

Genomic sequencing allows scientists to identify the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 and new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to improve understanding of which variants may have entered the territory.

Media reports claim that at least five travellers have been positively tested from COVID-19 through this method – they were asked to self-isolate in their hotel room or at their residence.