Vaccine is the only weapon: SLMA

• Covid jab adequately covers new mutants
• Mode of spread of new variants similar to virus already in SL

By Easwaran Rutnam 

The public have been urged to get vaccinated to be protected from the coronavirus, including from the new variants. The Sri Lanka Medical Association said that the mode of spread of new variants is similar to the virus already in Sri Lanka. These new variants may have the ability to be more infectious and therefore will spread the infection more quickly among the community.  

 SLMA President Dr. Padma Gunaratne said that when more people are infected, more patients will develop symptoms and complications and death. 

“Same public health measures currently recommended namely wearing face masks correctly and consistently, social distancing (more than 1 metre), avoiding crowded places and taking sanitary measures (frequent hand washing) are equally effective in prevention of transmission of new variants and should be practiced at all times,” Dr. Padma Gunaratne said. 
Dr. Gunaratne also said that the alarming increase recently in the number of new cases is most probably due to ignoring of these precautions. 
The SLMA says vaccination is the only weapon available at present to bring the pandemic including the infection with new variants, under control.