COLOMBO (News 1st); The Omicron Variant has become the fastest spreading COVID-19 variant in Sri Lanka.

The Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Sri Jayawardenapura University said that two sub-lineages of the Omicron variant is spreading in Sri Lanka at present.

This was confirmed when the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura tested 78 samples for COVID-19 and 75 contained the Omicron Variant.

The Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Professor Chandima Jeewandara stated that only 3 samples out of the 78 contained the Delta Variant of the virus.

These samples have been obtained in the first three weeks of this month.

The Omicron BA.1 sub lineage has been reported from Colombo, Awissawella, Boralesgamuwa, Homagama, Katugoda. Kosgama, Madapatha, Padukka, Parakaduwa and Wellampitiya.

The Omicron BA.2 sublineage has been reported from Awissawella, Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Kolonnawa, Mount Lavinia and Nugegoda.

Meanwhile, 845 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday (22) while a total number of 5,391 cases were reported within the last week.

Moreover, a total of 87 COVID-19 deaths have been reported within the last week.

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