Gambia has confirmed its first two cases of the new more infectious U.K. variant of the novel coronavirus, Minister of Health Dr Ahmadou Samateh told lawmakers on Thursday. 

Dr Samateh was summoned to give update on Covid-19 cases in the country, the strategies in place and the state of preparedness for a second wave of the pandemic. 

“Our sequencing has revealed that two UK variants are in the country now and we are delighted to say that they were tested on arrival and one of them was symptomatic,” Dr Samateh said. 

“We want to do more and more testing and it has been free in order to encourage many people to come, but for people who are travelling outside the country that will require a certificate that a cost is put on that for sustainability,” he added.

“We can sequence to know the various variants of covid-19 because there are UK variants and South Africa variants and possibly there are others that are coming up.”

Studies have shown that the U.K. variant is more infectious than the other Covid-19 strains circulating in The Gambia, though it does not cause a more severe case or increase likelihood of death. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba