SERIOUS CONCERNS

OVER NEW VARIANT Sri Lanka goes on alert

The new B.1.1.529, was “the worst one we’ve seen so far”, and there was concern it had the potential to evade immunity 59 confirmed cases had been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana

Sri Lanka’s health experts, today raised serious concerns over the new variant of the COVID-19 which had been detected in South Africa and said Sri Lanka’s borders had gone on alert. Health officials said while data for this new variant was still being studied, this was very bad news for all countries including Sri Lanka.

Experts said the new B.1.1.529, was “the worst one we’ve seen so far”, and there was concern it had the potential to evade immunity.

Doctors told Daily Mirror last evening that from the information received so far, laboratory results of the variant showed so far had put all countries into alert as the severity of the new variant was very high. However clinical results were yet to be released and it was being studied if it would evade the vaccine efficiency.

The Daily Mirror learns that the WHO urgently convened last evening to discuss the variant and the world body is likely to list it as a ‘variant of concern’.

International media reports said 59 confirmed cases had been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana.