COVID-19: MoH launch study into UK variant in SL

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Health has launched a study into the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus strain in the United Kingdom, which was detected in Sri Lanka, a top health official said on Saturday (Feb. 13). The Director-General of Health Services has instructed the Epidemiology Unit to submit recommendations on the action that should to be taken in this regard, Dr. Hemantha Herath, the Deputy Director-General of Health Services told News 1st. Dr. Hemantha Herath further urged the general public to continue to follow the COVID-19 health regulations. The Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura on Friday (Feb. 12) confirmed that the COVID-19 variant spreading in the UK was detected various parts of Sri Lanka. The rate of spread of the new variant is high, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the Director at the Immunology and Molecular Medicine Department at J'pura University told News 1st on Friday (12). According to Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the UK strain of the virus was detected on random samples obtained from Colombo, Awissawella, Ingiriya, Biyagama, Wattala, Mathugama, Mannar, and Vavuniya.