Breaking News, News

More young people now found to be infected in Sri Lanka

23 Apr, 2021

By Easwaran Rutnam

More young people have now been found to be infected with the coronavirus in Sri Lanka, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said today.

The health authorities also said that the virus is now airborne as opposed to only transmitting through contact.

Speaking at a special media briefing, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that the new variant of the coronavirus has been found to be affecting young people and not just senior citizens.

With the virus spreading among young people the Government says steps will be taken to use the ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine on young people.

According to the health authorities the ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine can be used on young people while Pfizer vaccine can also be used on young people.

Sri Lanka is in talks to purchase the ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine.

Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Professor Neelika Malavige said that a new variant of the coronavirus has entered Sri Lanka and tests are being carried out to identify the variant.

She said that the new variant is highly transmissible and that 5-6 people can be infected by just one person as opposed to one or two people from the earlier variant.

Professor Malavige said that droplets from the new variant stay airborne for an hour and people crossing that space can be infected so it is essential to wear face masks. (Colombo Gazette)

Recommended For You

Feature Image

Government MP expected to cross

By Ashanthi Warunasuriya A Government Member of Parliament is expected to cross and sit in the opposition as an independent MP over the next few weeks, sources said. Colombo Gazette learns that the ruling party MP is likely to sit as an independent MP in Parliament. The move comes as a rift in the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) coalition continues to widen. There has been some opposition to Basil Rajapaksa’s entry to Parliament and appointment as the Finance Minister. Additionall

09 Jul, 2021

Feature Image

Sri Lanka on alert as Lambda spreads in over 30 countries

By Easwaran Rutnam Sri Lanka is on alert as the Lambda variant of the coronavirus was found to be spreading in some 30 countries and could even be resistant to current Covid vaccines. The health authorities urged the public to take all precautions, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing to protect themselves from Lambda and all other Covid variants. State Minister of COVID19 control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle told Daily Mirror that so far no new precautions have been

06 Jul, 2021

Feature Image

First consignment of Pfizer vaccines arrive in Sri Lanka

The first consignment of Pfizer vaccines arrived in Sri Lanka today, the Government said. State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Professor Channa Jayasumana said that 26,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine purchased by Sri Lanka arrived this morning. The use of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as the second jab for those vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, was recently approved by the Health Ministry?s Advisory Committee. Professor Channa Jayasumana said that

05 Jul, 2021