The COVID-19 variant (Alpha) detected in the United Kingdom (UK) has been reported from 09 areas in Sri Lanka.
Director of the Allergy, Immunity and Cell Biology Unit at the Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said the Indian and Sri Lankan variants have been detected in two areas.
The B.1.1.7, UK Variant has been reported from Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kuliyaputiya, Wariyapola, Habaraduwa (Matara), Thissamaharama, Karapitiya, and Ragama.
The B.1.617.2, the Indian variant of the virus (Delta) has been detected from a hotel designated as a quarantine facility in Waskaduwa.
Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said the B.1.411, Sri Lankan lineage of COVID-19 has been reported from Thissamaharama.
He said the detections have been revealed as per the report issued yesterday on sequencing conducted by his team from the Sri Jayewardenepura University.
Dr. Jeewandara further said that healthcare workers who were detected with the UK variant (Alpha) two weeks after receiving the 2nd dose of the AstraZeneca Covishield coronavirus vaccine have all recovered. (NewsWire)
