15 more corona deaths - Six variants found

A total of 15 more COVID-19 deaths reported yesterday surpassing the 800 mark. The toll of COVID-19 deaths thereby surged to 801. Sri Lanka today recorded its highest number of single-day COVID-19 cases of 2,659.

 

This is the first occasion where the number of daily COVID cases surpassed the 2,000 mark. According to the Government Information Department, ten females and five males are among the deceased.

 

The services provided by the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) will be suspended until further notice from tomorrow (10), following instructions of the Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama, NTMI chairman Dr. Savindra Gamage said.

 

With the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in India (B.1.617)  six COVID-19 variants have been so far identified from the samples sequenced from positive patients across the country until April 30.

 

According to the Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr Chandima Jeewandara, the variants so far detected in Sri Lanka along with the relevant areas are as follows,

 

1. B.1.1.7 (UK variant/Kent variant)

2. The B.1.428 (Denmark/European/ Middle East variant)

3. B.1.411 (Sri Lankan variant)

4. B.1.525 (Nigerian variant)

5. B.1.617 (Indian variant)

6. B.1.351 (South African variant)