A new variant of COVID-19 virus with a special mutation (N439K) has been detected in Sri Lanka, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the Director of Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine at Sri Jayewardenepura University said. Dr. Jeewandara said this detected variant has similar characteristics to the strains found in England, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Iceland. He said the new variant was found after conducting genetic sequencing of patient’s samples received in last two weeks. We have identified that Sri Lanka has its own lineage (B1411) of COVID-19. The other detected variant has a special mutation and is of lineage B1258 which is mainly found in England, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Germany,” he said.

Source: The Nation January 26, 2021 12:45 UTC