New Variant Found In Sri Lanka Is Airborne For 60 Minutes

According to a popular and eminent immunologist in Colombo, a new coronavirus strain has been found which is airborne for almost 60 minutes and more potent than all those found previously in Sri Lanka.

This new variant is said to be rapid in transmission and with an hour shelf life in the air. Neelika Malavige, the head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University said – “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”.

Warning about the next couple of weeks’ grave situation, Upul Rohana, who is the Public Health inspector, said “In the next two incubation periods, the disease can progress to a third wave”. Like India, Sri Lanka is also running out of its health care capacity with a huge spike in cases. Sri Lanka has reported 99,691 cases and 638 deaths, but as per the director of health services, the hospitals still have sufficient ICUs and beds to treat COVID-19 patients.