Four of the 20 covid-19 positive passengers who came into the island on a recent flight from the United Kingdom, have also tested positive for the new variant of the coronavirus.

This was confirmed by Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton at a press briefing last evening.

20 samples from the December 21 flight were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing.

Dr. Tufton noted that 6 samples met the criteria for genetic sequencing, with 4 confirmed as of the new covid variant.

Dr. Tufton said the 20 positive patients, including those with the variant strain, remain in isolation.

He said they all remain stable and a-symptomatic.

The minister said the extension of the travel ban on the United Kingdom until the end of January, will allow Jamaica to learn more about the new variant.

He noted that with the country remaining in the community transmission phase of the pandemic, citizens must maintain the covid-19 protocols.