Dreaded Delta variant reported from Kahathuduwa

• Around 50 families were asked to serve home quarantine and random PCR tests would also be conducted in the area

The Indian ‘Delta’ variant has been detected from a resident in Relawala Grama Niladhari Division, Jayaliyagama in Kahathuduwa, the Health officials said yesterday.

Area Public Health Inspector (PHI) M. Prabath told the Daily Mirror that a 47-year-old male was subjected to a PCR test in Colombo where the sample was directed to Sri Jayawardenapura University for genetic sequencing.

“Accordingly, it was informed to the health authorities on Sunday (27) that the relevant person has been infected with the dreaded Indian variant,” he said. “The infected person, a mason by profession at a construction site in Colombo has been directed to Polonnaruwa COVID-19 centre,” he added. The PHI said around 50 families were asked to serve home quarantine under the direction of the area Medical Officer of Health and added, random PCR tests would also be conducted in the area. He said that all preventive measures had been taken to prevent further spreading of the virus from that area.

Delta variant was first detected in the Dematagoda area. In addition, a COVID-19 patient suspected to have been infected with Delta variant was found in the Madiwela area.

However, when journalists inquired from the Deputy Director-general of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath during a news briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau, he said it had not been reported to him as yet.

“Such reports are normally communicated to me through the Epidemiology Unit,” he said.