There is currently no risk of a new COVID-19 variant spreading in Sri Lanka, so there is no need to create undue fear, said the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, in a statement based on data from the Epidemiology Division.
The media had reported that there had been an increase in the number of COVID-19 infected people in several Asian countries in the past few weeks, and that this situation could be due to several factors, including the reduced ability of the community to cope with the disease. Considering this, the Ministry of Health has taken the necessary steps to prepare at the national level and protect public health, the statement issued by the Ministry Secretary states.
According to the Secretary’s announcement, the integrated respiratory surveillance, which tests clinical samples for COVID-19, is ongoing in selected hospitals across the country. According to the surveillance, there is currently no increase in COVID-19 patients. The announcement also states that the laboratory surveillance system required to identify possible epidemic situations in Sri Lanka in advance is also actively operating.