By Rathindra Kuruwita

Prof. Neelika Malavige of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayewardenepura University yesterday said only those engaged in providing essential services should be allowed to travel.

Employees should not be allowed to eat together, Prof. Malavige said. “You take masks off when you eat. If a group of people sit together and eat, all the precautions taken during the rest of the day will be in vain. Every country that has successfully controlled the spread, has adopted such measures.”

Prof. Malavige said the new variants were more infectious and could remain in the air longer in enclosed, especially air conditioned, environments.

“The virus is spread by droplets. If someone in an enclosed area coughs and emits droplets into the air. This can remain airborne for some time and can infect another. However, the distance that the droplets can travel is a metre. This would not be a problem at all if you are in a ventilated area or in open spaces,” she said.

“Vaccination is not the final solution to the pandemic”, Prof. Malavige said, adding that Singapore was currently under a lockdown because its airport staff, who had received both doses of Pfizer vaccine had contracted the Indian variant of COVID-19.

“They were asymptomatic cases, but infected their families, who spread it in the community,” she said, adding that vaccination was vital to ensure one’s personal safety but those who were vaccinated could contract the virus and spread it among others. She also said that it took several weeks after vaccination for people to develop immunity and therefore people should not lower their guard. “To develop some immunity after the AstraZeneca vaccine, it takes about 21 days after the first dose. However, you need to take the second dose for improved protection. You need two weeks after taking the second dose of Sinopharm to develop immunity. We have to be careful.”

Prof. Malavige said that Covid-19, like any other viral disease, had a significant effect on pregnant women, several of whom had died due to dengue, she noted.

“Any viral disease, be it chickenpox, influenza or dengue affects pregnant women. They must be careful.”