15 February 2021 06:43 pm
One resident from Havelock City in Colombo has tested positive for the new, highly contagious UK variant of COVID-19, making it the first case to be detected in Colombo city, the Daily Mirror learns.
The resident, who tested positive for the new variant has been taken into a treatment facility while authorities have begun contact tracing to identify the patient's first and second contacts.
A senior health official told Daily Mirror that the patient's house had been disinfected while family members were placed under quarantine.
In addition to this, cases of the new variant were also detected from Biyagama, Avisawella and Vavuniya.
Colombo continues to be a hot spot for the COVID-19 virus as the highest number of patients continue to be reported from the Western Province.
Health experts have warned that the number of infected patients may rise in the coming weeks due to the spread of the new variant and the public have been encouraged to wear two masks - a surgical mask and a tight fitting cloth mask on top of it as practiced in other countries who are facing a vast spread of this virus.
Authorities have insisted they will not go in for an islandwide lockdown or of the Western Province but said appropriate measures will be taken to prevent a spread of the new variant. (JAMILA HUSAIN)