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Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Friday, 6 August 2021 02:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The COVID-19 situation, particularly in the Western Province, has reached an extremely serious point, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) warned in a letter addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, urging the Government to respond to the situation immediately.
Dated 3 August, the letter outlines the gravity of the situation, stating that all intensive care beds and COVID-19 wards are fully occupied by COVID-19 patients, leaving no medical facilities available to seriously ill COVID-19 patients.
“The health workers who are at the frontline of defence are themselves becoming victims of COVID-19. Within hospitals, COVID-19 infections are being transmitted to patients who seek care for other diseases,” the letter read, adding that patients with other health conditions are deprived of treatment, including urgent, life-saving treatment, because the health system is overwhelmed by COVID-19 response.
The SLMA also warned of the spread of the Delta variant beyond the Western Province, stating, “Sri Lanka is on the cusp of a major COVID-19 epidemic; even worse than any previous experiences with the virus.”
Given the current COVID-19 spread in the country, the SLMA called for strict regulations restricting movement and preventing crowds from gathering. They stated that the lifting of inter-province travel restrictions and permitting gatherings at social events, entertainment hubs, places of worship, public transport, and offices will significantly worsen the situation.
“We at the SLMA urge the Government to respond urgently to protect the people from COVID-19 illness and death and to take immediate measures to strengthen the health system to deal with the ongoing epidemic,” the letter reads.
