A more highly transmissible new variant of the COVID-19 has been detected in Sri Lanka.
Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the Sri Jayewardenepura University, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said the new variant of Covid-19 belongs to the B.1.1.7 lineage of the virus.
Dr. Jeewandara said the new variant is found in the United Kingdom (UK).
He said the new variant was detected in Sri Lanka from samples received from the Colombo, Biyagama, Avissawella and Vavuniya areas.
This is the third new variant of COVID-19 to enter Sri Lanka.
The new variant is also the second such strain to be detected linked to the UK. (NewsWire)
More to follow….