30% of Covid-19 victims in Colombo infected with Delta variant

Around 30 percent of the reported COVID 19 patients within Colombo City have been infected with the Delta variant, Chief Medical Officer Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said today.

“An average of 550 to 600 cases of COVID are reported daily in the City of Colombo and the Delta variant accounts for 30 percent of it,” Dr. Wijayamuni said.

Dr. Wijayamuni said the spread could be controlled with extensive vaccination. “We have managed to jab 75 percent of city dwellers above 30. A decision is being made for a door to door vaccination drive targeting city dwellers. We will launch the programme shortly with the assistance of the police,” he added.

The main vaccine centre run by the CMC is located at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

Dr.Wijayamuni dismissed reports which said crematoriums are burdened with a large number of COVID related deaths. “ All crematoriums in the ten cemeteries which come under the CMC are functioning smoothly. In addition burials are also taking place,” he said.(Yohan Perera)