Health sector warns of rising COVID numbers; Emergency plans on standby

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan health sector has urged the people to understand the dangers posed by the spread of the Delta COVID-19 variant across the country.

Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said that the situation should be considered seriously as people infected by the virus are being treated at almost all hospitals, ICUs, and every location where there is available space.

129 Hospital Beds were allocated to treat COVID-19 patients at the Karapitiya Hospital, however at present 220 COVID-19 patients are being treated there, said a hospital source.

The number of COVID-19 patients at the Ratnapura Hospital has exceeded the number of allocated beds.

There are 100 COVID-19 patients while there are only 70 beds for treatment, said a hospital spokesperson.

The Kandy General Hospital has allocated 54 beds for COVID-19 patients. However, it is currently treating 156 COVID-19 cases.

A spokesperson for the hospital noted that additional wards are being used to treat infected people.

The Teldeniya Hospital is also reaching its capacity in relation to the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

A hospital spokesperson said that COVID-19 cases are being treated in all 160 beds allocated for this purpose.

The hospital's five Intensive Care Unit beds are also occupied at present.

160 beds have been allocated at the Kalubowila Hospital to treat COVID-19 patients.

But a spokesperson for the hospital said that nearly 250 infected people are receiving treatment.

The number of patients at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, known as IDH, has also exceeded its capacity.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that 200 beds at the hospital are occupied at present.

Dr. Hemantha Herath stressed there is a spike in admissions and said the health sector has an emergency plan in place to control the situation.