By Mihi Perera

It is reported that a person in the Pragathipura area in Madiwela is suspected to be infected with the Covid-19 "Delta variant" and the Health Department has commenced investigations into the matter, while alerting all medical officers to be aware of the variant.

Addressing a media briefing held this morning (21), Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said that the Epidemiology Unit is taking steps to take appropriate action whenever such a situation is reported.

If such an infected person is reported to have been found, appropriate action will be taken by the medical officers in the relevant areas, he said.

“Most of the time, this situation has arisen in the Colombo city limits. As soon as we noticed a genetic change in the first PCR test, we immediately inform the Provincial Medical Officer of Health and the Colombo Municipal Council, which took the necessary action a week ago to confirm the variation when the variant was first detected. Also, even though we have not received the information that this person has been confirmed as a Delta Covid patient at the moment, we will definitely give the necessary areas a hint of the difference in PCR tests and take the necessary action accordingly. We will take action after confirming this from the laboratories,” he reassured.

He further stated that there is only one suspected case of the Delta variant and if it is confirmed, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura will inform the Epidemiology Unit.

In the Dematagoda Aramaya Road area where the Delta Covid strain was first reported, three infected people are from the same family, while the other two individuals are their neighbors.