April 28, 2021
2 mins read

Highly infectious Covid-19 strain detected in Sri Lanka

Health authorities feared that the new variant is spreading rapidly after last week’s New Year celebrations with more younger people getting infected….reports Asian

A highly transmissible Covid-19 variant is fast spreading in Sri Lanka, the health authorities have warned, adding that it can be airborne.

According to Neelika Malavige, the head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, the new variant can remain airborne for nearly an hour and is spreading fast, the WION reported.

“This variant of coronavirus is more highly transmissible than all found so far in the island. The new strain is airborne, the droplets can remain airborne for nearly an hour,” Malavige was quoted as saying.

People taking COVID-19 vaccination at a police hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo: Ajith Perera/Xinhua/ians)

Health authorities feared that the new variant is spreading rapidly after last week’s New Year celebrations with more younger people getting infected.

Sri Lanka’s Education Minister Professor GL Peiris on Tuesday announced that all schools island-wide will be closed till April 30 amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the country.

Also read:Sri Lanka observes anniversary of Easter bombings

Cabinet Media Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said it was decided at today’s Cabinet meeting to close all schools and tuition classes in the country until April 30, reported Colombo Page.

According to Colombo Page, earlier it was decided to close only the schools in the Western Province and North Western Province.

A police officer receives the COVID-19 vaccination at a police hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo: Ajith Perera/Xinhua/ians)

However, education authorities have decided to close the schools in several other educational zones outside the two provinces as well after finding students infected with COVID-19.

The ministry of COVID prevention issued new guidelines which would remain in force until May 31.

The guidelines dictate a 50 per cent capacity operation for most institutions with all forms of revelry being banned.

The total number of cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka has reported 102,376, while the total number of the death toll has reached 647, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Also read:Chinese Defence Minister starts B’desh, Sri Lanka visits

Previous Story

Beijing slams Australia over Taiwan remarks

Next Story

Ex-Sri Lanka minister, brother to be detained for 90 days

Latest from -Top News

India Ramps Up Security Game with Central Asia

The India-Central Asia Dialogue, launched in January 2019 in Samarkand, serves as a key platform for strengthening ties between India and Central Asia…reports Asian Lite News Foreign Ministers from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,

Bangladesh Islamists Back in the Game

Commissioner Sanaulla stated that Jamaat’s party symbol will be returned following a policy decision made by the EC….reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to have its party

Modi Meets Aussie Deputy PM in Delhi

The two leaders exchanged ideas to further strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Visiting Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on

Missing Indians Rescued in Iran

All three individuals, identified as Jaspal Singh, Hushanpreet Singh, and Amritpal Singh, hail from Punjab and had disappeared shortly after landing in Tehran on May 1….reports Asian Lite News The three Indian

Mujibur Rahman Stripped of Hero Status

The ordinance strips ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmad, Syed Nazrul Islam, and over 400 former constituent assembly members of their recognised freedom fighter status….reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s interim government, led
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Pakistan NSA due in Kabul this week

The informed officials said that the purpose of the visit

Cambodia-Philippines joins to broaden cooperation in post-Covid era

Cambodia and the Philippines have pledged to broaden their cooperation