Delta variant may have spread but no evidence to establish it yet - Deputy Health DG

3 July 2021 12:00 am Views - 156

• There is no evidence as of now to say that the Delta variant has spread to many areas in the country as claimed by the PHIs
• Dr. Herath said there is a downward trend in COVID-19 cases in the country at present

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Responding to claims made by the Public Health Inspectors’ Union that the Delta variant has spread to many areas in the country, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said it may have happened but there is no evidence to establish it. 

However, Dr. Herath said there is no evidence as of now to say that the Delta variant has spread to many areas in the country as claimed by the PHIs.  “The Health Ministry is conducting PCR tests covering every district in order to ascertain whether the deadly variant has spread among the community. We are not taking this situation lightly,” he stressed.  “The Jayewardenepura University is carrying out genome sequencing and results would be released soon,” he added. 

 
Meanwhile, Dr. Herath said there is a downward trend in COVID-19 cases in the country at present.  
“We are of the opinion that the Health Ministry could maintain the momentum of this downward trend,” he said.