Health Minister Dr.Ramesh Pathirana yesterday said that the people need not panic over the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading in various other countries and
as a result of a strong vaccination program implemented in the country, immunity against the virus has been established.
The Minister said that though the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which caused the coronavirus pandemic, had been detected in dozens of countries, it did not pose a significant threat here. People need not to be panic and the ministry is on alert on this. But the Minister urge the public to wear masks since its reduces the spreading of other respiratory diseases also.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently categorised the JN.1 as a “variant of interest”. After first being spotted in the United States in September, the variant has spread across 41 countries.
Ishara Mudugamuwa