Another 75 Omicron cases detected in Sri Lanka

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Another 75 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been detected in Sri Lanka.

According to the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant report issued by the Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 75 new cases of Omicron and three new cases of Delta have been detected from 78 samples.

Director of the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said the 78 samples were sequenced from the first, second and third weeks of January from the community adding the Omicron cases include a mix of the two main Omicron lineages BA.1 and BA.2.

The University said the 56 cases of BA.1 Omicron lineage were detected from Colombo, Avissawella, Boralesgamuwa, Homagama, Katugoda, Kosgama, Madapatha, Padukka, Parakudawa and Wellampitiya.

12 cases of BA.2 Omicron lineage were detected from Avissawella, Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Kollonnawa, Mount Lavinia, Nugegoda, and from a passenger from India.

Meanwhile, seven cases of B.1.1.529 have been detected from Angoda, Colombo, Ruwanwella, Mount Lavinia, Nugegoda and Padukka.

The University added that a case of AY.98 Sri Lanka delta sub-lineage was detected in Thalangama while a case of AY.104 Sri Lanka delta sub-lineage from Kaduwela and a case of B.1.617.2 was detected from Wellampitiya.

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura said at present 8 percent of the sequences of Sri Lanka are BA.2 lineage, which was named as a variant of interest by the UK Health security agency.

Other variants identified within Sri Lanka include B.1.411: Sri Lankan variant, B.1.1.25, B.1.258, B.1.428, B.4, B.4.7, B.1.1.365, B.1.525, B.1, B.1.1.