Melbourne Delta Variant linked to Sri Lankan arrival was only a transit passenger

The Individual who was detected with the Indian (Delta) variant of the coronavirus in Australia had not entered Sri Lanka , but had travelled via Sri Lanka, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara from Sri Jayewardanapura University said.

Responding to a question by a journalist at a news briefing, he said the person was only a transit passenger, who had arrived from a foreign country and then departed from the country.

Dr. Chandima Jeewandara further said upon being inquired from the Australian authorities, it had been revealed that the Individual had arrived from another country and had transited through Sri Lanka to Australia.

Earlier, it was reported that the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne, Australia has been linked to a Sri Lankan who had arrived in Australia on the 08th of May.

According to Australian media, the Sri Lankan had tested positive for the Delta Variant, which is the highly transmissible Indian Variant of the coronavirus.

Acting Premier James Merlino said the authorities had genomically linked the West Melbourne Delta cluster to a man in his 40s who arrived from Sri Lanka on May 8. The Melbourne Covid cluster had left millions locked down for two weeks. 

Merlino said public health teams had matched the strain to a man who arrived in Melbourne from Sri Lanka on May 8 and had tested positive on the same day.

Genomic sequencing has also detected an “identical match” to the second of the two families at the centre of the West Melbourne outbreak, who reportedly have ties to the North Melbourne Primary School.

The Acting Premier said further investigations are underway to ascertain any contact between the returned traveller and these families.

News Source: Newswire lk