(UTV | COLOMBO) – Multiple COVID-19 variants, including the highly transmissible Alpha variant has been detected in Sri Lanka.
The Alpha variant first detected in the United Kingdom (UK) has been detected in patients identified from Batticaloa, Colombo, Habaraduwa, Karapitiya, Kuliyapitiya, Ragama, Thissamaharama, Trincomalee, and Wariyapola.
The Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said 80 patients were infected with the Alpha variant from the aforementioned locations.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jeewandara further noted that an individual infected with the Delta variant of the Virus, first detected in India, was also identified from a quarantine centre in Wadduwa.
The patient had reportedly arrived in the country from India.
