Colombo: The more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Sri Lanka and about 30 percent of the cases of infection in Colombo have been due to this form. Giving this information on Monday, the health authorities advised the government not to relax the travel restrictions.
Dr. Hemant Herath, Deputy Director-General of Health Services, told reporters that the cases of delta form are spreading rapidly in the southern districts of Galle and Matara along with the northern districts of Jaffna and Kilinochchi. “The attack has found that 25-30 percent of the cases in Colombo are due to the delta nature,” Herath said.
The health official said that so far 35 cases of delta-type infection have been reported in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is facing the third wave of the pandemic. More than 1,000 cases and about 50 people are dying every day. The government eased restrictions in early May.
Five cases of delta form were first reported in Colombo on June 17. Public health inspectors have advised the government not to relax the travel restrictions further. So far 3,00,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Sri Lanka and 3700 people have died. 256,000 people have recovered from the infection in the country.
