DDGHS warns death toll would rise again

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The death toll from COVID-19 would rise again if people continued to ignore heath guidelines, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Island yesterday.

Dr. Herath said that the number of new cases were on the rise due to the irresponsible behaviour of some.

Dr. Herath pointed out that COVID infections were rising across the country. The vaccines only protected people from death and complications, he said. “The spread of the disease won’t stop because of vaccination. If the virus spreads in society without being checked, some people with a low immunity level will have complications and die even if they are vaccinated,” he said.

The Deputy Director General of Health Services said that widespread transmission could lead to mutations and new variants.

The emergence of such variants could undermine the vaccination process. “We were in an awful spot in August and September. If we had not imposed a lockdown, we might have seen our own variant. Everyone now knows what the health guidelines are. They just have to adhere to them,” he added.