News
Public health expert: Follow China and Australia in curbing spread of Delta variant; jabs alone not answer
Dr Ravi Rannan-Eliya
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Only China and New South Wales in Australia had so far managed to contain outbreaks of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), Dr Ravi Rannan-Eliya told The Island yesterday. “Given that even highly vaccinated countries, like the UK, the USA, and Israel are experiencing explosive outbreaks of Delta variant, Sri Lanka needs to be especially vigilant.
“We have also seen an outbreak in Singapore and that was sourced to the airport staff who had received the Pfizer vaccine. China has been battling a Delta outbreak in Guangdong province for just over a month and a half, but it appears their response has been effective. The number of cases is decreasing although this part of China is lagging behind other areas where vaccination is concerned.
In NSW, Australia, which had controlled the spread of the Delta variant, too, was lagging behind in vaccination, Dr. Rannan-Eliya said. “This means that managing the spread of Delta has little to do with vaccination. In both China and NSW they have limited lockdowns with people allowed to leave their homes/go shopping. Factories are operating in Guangdong, and in NSW there is still no requirement to wear masks outdoors”, he said.
“So, how are they doing this? Simple answer is aggressive testing, contact tracing and isolation. Guangdong has probably done over 50 million PCR tests during the past few weeks, and NSW also ramped up testing massively from 10,000 a day to over 60,000. Contrast this with our response to Delta. We are apparently doubling down on cutting testing, maybe with the mistaken hope that case numbers will fall as a result.”
Four persons including a Budhist monk died and 32 others were injured when two SLTB buses collided head on at Weerawila at arond 12 noon today (18).
Three of the deceased were women. 22 of the injured were admitted to the Hambanthota Hospital while 10 others have been admitted to the Debarawewa hospital.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship OONAMI which arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill and replenishment visit on 09 Mar 26 departed on 11 March.
The departing ship was given a formal farewell from the Sri Lanka Navy, in keeping with naval traditions at the Port of Colombo.
The 150.5m long JMSDF OONAMI is commanded by Commander IIO Hiromasa.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ship explored some tourist attractions in Colombo. The itinerary also included a coastal clean-up drive participated by naval personnel of both countries and engagements with the Sri Lanka Navy, designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation.
The Central Cultural Fund established under the provisions of the Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980 is responsible for development of cultural and religious monuments in Sri Lanka, settling the expenditure borne for development, renovation and conservation of local and foreign cultural monuments, awarding financial donations for artisans as well as awarding those who served the nation in the fields of culture and religious sectors.
The said act has been passed in Parliament 45 years back and, the requirement to revise the provisions of the act according to the contemporary requirements haa been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted their policy
approval to amend the said act, considering the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasashana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
SriLankan Airlines Alerts Customers to Social Media Scams
Four dead 32 injured in head on collision at Weerawila
JMSDF ship OONAMI concludes goodwill visit
Cabinet nod to amend Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980
’National Namal Uyana’ declared as a National Heritage
Establishment of Supervisory Committees for restoring economic activities.
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