COVID-19: Alarming increase in infections & deaths; obtain booster ASAP

COLOMBO (News 1st): The rate of COVID-19 infections in Sri Lanka has risen by 30 percent compared to the previous week, amidst the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, the Ministry of Health said. "Given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, there is a considerable increase in the rate of COVID-19 patients and hospitalisations," Dr. Anwar Hamdani, the Director of Medical Technology Services and Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 at the Ministry of Health told News 1st on Saturday (Feb. 5). The rate of COVID-19 deaths has also risen by 8 to 10 percent, compared to last week. The rate of COVID-19 patients depending on Oxygen has also risen by around 4 to 5 percent, while the rate of patients receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Units, has also risen by the same percentage, Dr. Hamdani added. He further pointed out that of the COVID-19 deaths reported in the past few weeks, 2/3rd of the victims were not fully vaccinated. "Those who are yet to receive the recommended three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are still at risk," he emphasized. According to Dr. Anwar Hamdani, the health authorities aim to reach the 70 percent target with regard to the inoculation of the COVID-19 booster dose to the eligible population in near future. At present, only 30 percent of the eligible population has received the booster dose of the COVID-19 jab. "Medical teams from the Health Ministry and Sri Lanka Army, have been assigned to carry out a mobile vaccination program to administer the vaccines to people who are confined to their homes," Dr. Anwar Hamdani further noted.