• Research by University of Sri Jayewardenepura reveals current COVID-19 wave has higher infectivity; fatal or dangerous for those with chronic diseases
• Calls on general public to comply with health regulations at all times

The Health Ministry yesterday introduced 011 7 966 366 — an emergency hotline to contact if a person develops symptoms of COVID-19.

Once a person contacts the emergency hotline, health authorities will direct the person to a dedicated team that would assess the information and dispatch a team to conduct a PCR test.

“Research by University of Sri Jayewardenepura revealed that the current COVID-19 wave is of a variant strain with higher infectivity. This will be fatal or dangerous for those with chronic diseases,” Health Ministry Secretary Major General (Rtd.) Sanjeewa Munasinghe said.

He warned that COVID-19 can easily be contracted by children and the elderly, as their immunity would be too low to combat the virus. He insisted that precautions must be taken by everyone to prevent contracting or spreading the virus.

The Ministry Secretary called on the general public to comply with the health regulations at all times.

Dual cluster increases to 7,582 with 397 new cases