The Sri Lankan government is urging the people to get the Covid vaccine immediately to save lives from the rapidly spreading Covid-19 Delta strain.
The Department of Government Information issuing a statement said the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly across Sri Lanka like in many other countries of the world and every person is at risk of getting infected.
“Around 1.5% of the persons infected with the Covid 19 Delta variant would eventually die. Majority of the infected have to be treated in intensive care units,” the Government said.
In order to avoid this danger, Health authorities strongly advise the public to strictly adhere to the instructions given below.
• First of all, get vaccinated against coronavirus. Most of the infected people worldwide survived due to vaccination.
• Do not leave home unless it is essential.
• Do not participate in weddings, funerals and other similar events where people gather in large numbers.
• Remember to wear a face mask when visiting public places.
• Do not stay in closed spaces such as rooms, halls, elevators, vehicles etc. when crowded.
• Wash your hands using soap from time to time.
• Stay away from others keeping a distance of more than two meters.
• If you have a chronic illness, do not leave home except for work.
• Do not entrust safety of yours and your family with others and take that responsibility into your hands.
Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control yesterday urged all those above the age of 30 to visit the nearest vaccination center immediately and obtain the vaccine if they are yet to do so.
Meanwhile, the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo requested parents not to take their children outdoors into the society except for taking them to the hospital for clinical consultations.
It has been reported that hospitals including the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital have reached maximum capacity with COVID-19 patients.
According to health sources, many private sector hospitals are also overcrowded with Covid patients, and some private hospitals have stopped accepting Covid patients due to exceeding the treatable capacity.
Meanwhile, the government has already decided to quarantine patients who do not show complications in their own homes under the supervision of health officials.
According to the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, those at risk of developing complications from COVID-19 will be hospitalized while the Covid patients who do not have any complications, who are over 2 years of age, less than 65 years, low risk, asymptomatic or showing minor symptoms, are to be treated at home under medical supervision.
Patient Home Isolation and Management System (PHIMS) operational through a 24-hour call center at 1390 will allow the patient to easily receive treatment from their home for 14 days under medical supervision (Call – Center and the Medical Care Team). If the patient’s condition worsens, information about the patient will be obtained over the phone and steps will be taken to immediately hospitalize the patient. This method will minimize capacity problems in hospital wards by unnecessarily hospitalizing patients, the Ministry said.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
