Person linked to Melbourne cluster only transited via Sri Lanka

• The Melbourne Covid cluster left millions locked down for two weeks

By Sheain Fernandopulle

The person who is reportedly the cause for the Melbourne COVID-19 cluster in Australia has not entered the country but had travelled via Sri Lanka, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara from Sri Jayawardenepura University said. 

Responding to a question by a journalist at a news briefing, he said the person was only a transit passenger, who had arrived from a foreign country and then departed from the country.

“It has been confirmed to us that the said the person did not enter the country but travelled as a transit passenger,” he reiterated.

“Accordingly, there will be no risk that the person, who has been reportedly infected with the Indian variant has associated with the community here,” Dr. Jeewandara added.

However, Acting Premier James Merlino recently said the authorities had genomically linked the West Melbourne Delta cluster to a man in his 40’s who arrived from Sri Lanka on May 8. The Melbourne Covid cluster had left millions locked down for two weeks.

• Authorities had genomically linked the West Melbourne Delta cluster to a man in his 40’s who arrived from Sri Lanka on May 8