In nine locations of Sri Lanka, the UK Alpha COVID-19 variation has been discovered.

Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the Allergy, Immunity, and Cell Biology Unit at Sri Jayewardenepura University, announced today that the COVID-19 variant (Alpha) discovered in the UK has been detected in nine places in Sri Lanka.

Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kuliyaputiya, Wariyapola, Habaraduwa (Matara), Thissamaharama, Karapitiya, and Ragama have all been recognized as having the B.1.1.7, UK variant (Alpha).

Furthermore, he stated that the Indian and Sri Lankan varieties have been discovered in two locations.

"The B.1.617.2, Indian variety of the virus (Delta) was found at a quarantine facility in Waskaduwa, while the B.1.411, Sri Lankan lineage of COVID-19 was discovered from Thissamaharama," he said.

Following his team's sequencing at Sri Jayewardenepura University, Dr. Jeewandara revealed the relevant mutations have been detected.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jeewandara said that healthcare workers at the Colombo National Hospital who were diagnosed with the UK strain (Alpha) two weeks after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine's second dosage have recovered.

The Delta coronavirus, which was first discovered in India, is thought to be 60 percent more


transmissible than the Alpha variety, according to UK specialists.  (Sheain Fernandopulle)