The alpha variant of novel coronavirus, first recorded in the United Kingdom, still predominates in Slovakia, according to the results of sequencing the samples positive for novel coronavirus in May, the Public Health Authority (UVZ) informed on Thursday. A total of 955 samples were successfully sequenced. The alpha variant was detected in almost 92 percent of the samples examined. The beta variant, first reported in South Africa, appeared in two cases. "The delta variant, which was first recorded in India, was not confirmed in the positive samples examined in May," stressed Slovakia's Chief Hygienist Jan Mikas.
In five cases, other variants were identified, with three samples being the variant first recorded in Colombia. The sequencing was carried out by the Public Health Office, the Biomedical Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) and the Science Park of Comenius University in Bratislava.
Source: TASR
