Army Commander and Head of the National Operations Center for the Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Shavendra Silva stated that there will be no lockdown imposed over the upcoming long weekend. However, he stated that the public should be vigilant and avoid unnecessary gatherings as the Covid patient rate has already increased. He stated that there would be area-wise isolations if there are large clusters of Covid patients detected. "It is also the responsibility of the public to make sure that this disease is controlled. We should avoid a third wave as much as possible. Therefore, I urge the public to be responsible and adhere to social distancing and other health regulations," Silva said. Meanwhile, the the Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura Dr. Chandima Jeewandara stated today that the UK variant had been identified in several patients detected after the New Year season. He stated that COVID-19 patients detected post-New Year season are showing severe symptoms as opposed to the patients reported before. "Severe complications are being reported among young individuals especially, and they are being directed to Intensive Care Units as severe disease cases,” Dr. Jeewandara said.