DDGH tight-lipped on real situation

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday told the media that he might not be allowed to speak to the media again if he spoke candidly about the trajectory of the pandemic in the coming days.

Dr. Herath made this statement when a journalist asked him to comment candidly on the situation Sri Lankans would face in the coming days.

“There are a lot of new cases. More people come with symptoms and the percentage of those who need oxygen too has increased. I urge the citizens to follow good health practices and not expect the health officials alone to solve this,” Dr. Herath said.

He added that there were 224 COVID treatment centres, with over 35,000 beds. Already 32,317 beds were in use.

Meanwhile, Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, G. Wijesuriya said that they admitted about 25 children with COVID a day.

“If your kids show signs of COVID like fever, coughing, difficulties in breathing, lack of appetite, etc., please seek medical advice. Don’t try to treat it at home. Take them to a government hospital,” he said.

President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh told The Island that the Delta variant was worsening the pandemic situation and that neither the government nor the people should let their guard down just because the vaccination process had picked up.

Kumudesh said that they had warned in early July that a new wave would emerge within four weeks, if the Health Ministry had not increased PCR testing and gene sequencing. By July the collection of samples, even at hospitals, had dropped significantly. There was also no attempt to test potential hotspots and preempt any outbreaks, Kumudesh said. Therefore, the data issued by the Ministry did not reflect the ground reality.

“We saw similar developments in late March – early April. But we again end up making the wrong decisions. We said it was highly likely that we would see a new outbreak in about four weeks and here we are. Not only us, but anyone who understands what is going on made the same prediction. The people must get vaccinated and take precautions.”