Government to step up viral tracing ability Article by February 16, 2021 Government is moving to enable the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory to conduct continuous genomic surveillance to detect the presence of other strains of the novel coronavirus on the island, Senior Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health Dr Anton Best has disclosed. The effort was immediately backed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley during the latest COVID-19 update at Ilaro Court. Dr Best said that based on a meeting on Saturday with health officials, including representatives from the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners, to examine issues surrounding the lab, the recommendation was made to the wider Emergency Operations Centre on Sunday to do continuous genomic surveillance.