According to government medical officials if the C.1.2 strain of the corona virus, which is spreading in South Africa and South America, enters Sri Lanka, the rate of spread will be 300%.

Its chairman, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, said the virus could spread three times as fast as the Delta strain, and that the decision needed to be made early rather than waiting for the virus to enter the country.

He added that the country would be in a very serious situation if the government implement the decision to the South African variant  in the same way that the decisions were implemented when the Delta was expanding.