COLOMBO (News 1st); 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, 160 new cases of Omicron and 22 new cases of Delta were detected from 182 samples.“These 182 samples were sequenced from the last week of December and the first week of January from the community and arrival and departure samples from the airport.” said Dr.
Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Faculty of Medicine.The 160 Omicron cases include a mix of the two main Omicron lineages BA.1 and BA.2.
BA.1 is detected in at least 113 countries and whereas BA.2 is directed in at least 3o countries. BA.1 /B.1.1.529.1. is the standard variety.
BA.2 /B.1.1.529.2 is stealth omicron that differs from the standard variety. BA.3 /B.1.1.529.3 is the third sublinaege. BA.1 and BA.