28 April 2021 10:28 am
The COVID-19 variant currently spreading in several areas of the country has been confirmed to be the variant spreading in the UK (B.1.1.7), Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said.
He said the B.1.1.7 variant of the Coronavirus which is specific to the UK, was detected from a total of 43 samples obtained from Colombo, Boralesgamuwa and Kurunegala districts.
“Accordingly, we have observed that almost all of the samples could be attributed to the variant spreading in the UK. This has confirmed 100 per cent,” Dr. Jeewandara said.
“Though we have so far reported that the B.1.411 lineage (Sri Lankan lineage) is the predominant virus strain in Sri Lanka, we can now say that it has been replaced by this new strain."
He also said the scientific research carried out on this new variant had shown that the death rate is 55 per cent higher than the normal variant while transmissibility rate is 50 per cent.
"The plus point is that the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being used in Sri Lanka gives us protection against this variant, " he stressed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jeewandara said they had received samples covering every part of the country, in order to determine whether other variants are present in the community. “These samples are being tested and we expect the results in about seven days,” he added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)