The Trump administration is sending a crew from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions to Guatemala to “review and validate” coronavirus testing in the country after a Guatemalan official said Guatemalans deported on one flight from the United States this week tested positive for COVID-19, reports The Los Angeles Times.
"Once results are available, ICE will determine whether to reevaluate current medical procedures with CDC guidance to ensure that any newly necessary practices are implemented," U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement spokesperson Jenny Burke told the Times.
Presidential spokesman Carlos Sandoval on Thursday told the Associated Press that “Guatemala is working with United States authorities to revalidate the health of Guatemalans returned in recent days." He also said the CDC and Guatemala's national laboratory would retest all those who were found positive and negative.
ICE said the CDC had representatives in Guatemala reviewing the tests and attempting to confirm the results.
“The health and welfare of detainees in ICE custody is of the highest priority to the agency,” ICE said in a statement to the AP.
The flight with the deportees arrived in Guatemala’s capital Monday carrying 76 passengers. Three displaying COVID-19 symptoms were immediately tested.
A flight in late March had as many as 30 people who tested positive for coronavirus, according to Guatemalan officials.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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