Twenty docs down with coronavirus at Badulla GH

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Twenty doctors and 60 other staff members of the Badulla Provincial General Hospital had tested COVID-19 positive, Chief Medical Officer of the Badulla Hospital Emergency Unit, Dr. Palitha Rajapaksha said.

Six of the COVID infected doctors are in the Emergency Unit. “There are only nine docs in the Emergency Unit. Luckily, none of them have severe symptoms. I think this is an indication of the success of vaccination,” he said.

Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Island yesterday that on Wednesday, 1,263 COVID cases were reported. It was the 11th consecutive day that over 1,000 cases were reported, he said.

“7,541 PCRs and 4,899 RATs were done on Wednesday,” he said.

Thirty six deaths had been reported on Tuesday, Dr. Herath said. “The results are an indication that there are many asymptomatic cases that are in society spreading the virus”, he said.

“There are people spreading the virus among weak members of their families and co-workers. Unlike the young and healthy, the weak will get complications,” he said.

On Wednesday 43,883 people received booster shots. With that those who have been triple jabbed exceeded 5.9 million.