COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Health has identified that diabetes and high blood pressure were among the leading underlying causes of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka.

More than 80 percent of the people who died from the COVID-19 infection were already suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, Dr. Anwar Hamdani, the Director of Medical Technology Services and Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 at the Ministry of Health, told News 1st on Monday (Sept. 27).

“Of the COVID-19 deaths, 74 percent were unvaccinated, while 26 percent were vaccinated,” he added.

Commenting on the percentage of deaths among those who were vaccinated, Dr. Hamdani said “Around 20 percent of them had only received one dose of the COVID-19 jab, meaning only 06 percent had died even after being fully vaccinated.”

According to Dr. Hamdani, among that 06 percent are those who suffered from underlying complications and other non-communicable diseases, with diabetes and high blood pressure listed as the leading causes.

Commenting on the home-quarantine system for COVID-19 patients, Dr. Hamdani said more than 75,000 such patients who were monitored by the Health Ministry through the hotline 1390, have now fully recovered.

More than 3000 victims who died from the COVID-19 infection, were buried at the Ottamawadi National COVID Burial Center as of now, Dr. Anwar Hamdani, Director of Medical Technology Services and Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 at the Ministry of Health further noted.

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