Mozambique to test new variants starting in August

Mozambique will start testing new variants of COVID-19, as of August this year. The guarantee was given last Friday by Armindo Tiago, who said that at this moment, the tests are being done in international laboratories..

At a time when new variants of COVID-19 are appearing in the world recently, it is necessary to do more than just one test every day to find out whether you are infected or not. It is also necessary to know which variant the patient is infected with.

"In Mozambique, we are creating conditions to do this testing. Probably, starting in August. We already have the equipment, we are just waiting for the staff training process and for the arrival of consumables and reagents", revealed Armindo Tiago.

While this is not happening, the leader said that there are reference laboratories that Mozambique trusts to test new variants.

"Right now we are sending the samples to South Africa, but we have also made room to send to other countries like Germany," Tiago explained, adding that having samples in different locations ensures that there is not much delay in getting the results.

"For example, right now, Mozambique has 300 samples pending in South Africa, which are waiting for processing in order to know whether or not there are new variants. The shipment is done weekly out of the country."

As for controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Mozambique, the minister said there is special attention to Tete province, which has joined Maputo province and Cidade at the top of those with the highest number of infections daily.

"Central level teams are already in Tete to help improve the testing system, improve the demand for contacts and their respective testing, but also to ensure, in coordination with local authorities, that there are intensive communication campaigns in the perspective of improving the application of prevention measures by the citizens of Tete," he assured.

At the moment, the country has been experiencing a sharp rise in new infections, hence the prevention measures were tightened by the President of the Republic last Thursday.

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