COVID-19 in Sri Lanka: Two Highly Contagious Alpha And Delta Coronavirus Variants Detected in Island Nation
Colombo, June 11: Sri Lankan health authorities announced on Friday that the two highly contagious COVID-19 variants — B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2 — have been detected in the island nation. 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.┬аB.1.617 COVID-19 Variant, First Detected in India, Now Found in 53 Countries: WHO.
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. Sri Lanka is presently facing a third wave of the pandemic.┬аCOVID-19 Strain B.1.617.2 First Detected in India to Be Called ‘Delta Variant’, WHO Announces Labels of Coronavirus Variants Using Greek Alphabets.
The island nation has registered a total of 216,134 Covid cases till date, while the death toll stood at 2,011.
(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Jun 11, 2021 05:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).
