Highly Contagious Variants of COVID Detected in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, two highly contagious variants of COVID-19 - B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2 have been detected.

Director of the Allergy, Immunity and Cell Biology Unit at the Sri Jayewardenepura University, Chandima Jeewandara said the B.1.1.7 variant, also known as Alpha, has been reported in capital Colombo and nine other areas in the country, reports Xinhua news agency.

‘Sri Lanka is presently facing a third wave of the pandemic.’

Meanwhile, the B.1.617.2 or the Delta variant, has been detected in a quarantine facility in Waskaduwa in the outskirts of the capital, she added.

The island nation has registered a total of 216,134 Covid cases till date, while the death toll stood at 2,011.

Source: IANS