All schools in Trincomalee have been closed until further notice. Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath has instructed all schools in the Trincomalee Education Zone to close until further notice. The decision was taken as a precaution to prevent school children from being infected with the virus.
On Friday Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said more young people have now been found to be infected with the coronavirus in Sri Lanka.
The health authorities also said that the virus is now airborne as opposed to only transmitting through contact.
Speaking at a special media briefing, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that the new variant of the coronavirus has been found to be affecting young people and not just senior citizens.
Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Professor Neelika Malavige said that a new variant of the coronavirus has entered Sri Lanka and tests are being carried out to identify the variant.
She said that the new variant is highly transmissible and that 5-6 people can be infected by just one person as opposed to one or two people from the earlier variant.
Professor Malavige said that droplets from the new variant stay airborne for an hour and people crossing that space can be infected so it is essential to wear face masks.