Delta variant of COVID-19 spreading fast in Sri Lanka

Colombo: The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across Sri Lanka and comprise around 75 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases reported in the Western province, experts said, warning that the island nation was facing its most decisive fortnight in its fight against the pandemic.

There has been a rise in the number of deaths and new COVID-19 infections driven in large part by the highly infectious Delta variant.

Dr. Chandima Jeewandara of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura said by early this month, 75 per cent of the new infections detected in the Western province were carrying the Delta variant and the island is bracing to face its most decisive fortnight.