Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday (28) said that he called the Director General of Health Services, every 12 hours to check the health sector’s oxygen needs.

 “I make this call personally and oxygen suppliers have told me that we have enough stocks,” he said.

It is difficult to predict what areas could be isolated due to COVID-19 and it is better if households stock up for a few days, he added.

“It is important to be prepared. We have no intention to scare people or hide the real situation,” he said.

General Silva said that the heads of state institutions had been asked to operate with a minimum staff.

The Army was ready to establish new medical centres if the number of COVID-19 cases increased, he said.

General Silva said that 1,111 COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday (27)  along with eight new deaths.

“There are 7,975 coronavirus patients undergoing treatment.

We held a discussion on Tuesday about the treatment centres. If COVID-19 cases keep on increasing, we will establish new treatment centres,” he said.

The army commander said that they had also discussed the need to increase ICU beds and what new hospitals should be used as COVID-19 treatment centres.

“We are ready to accommodate even 2,000 new daily cases. I informed hospitals that the army is ready to even provide 10,000 new beds to hospitals,” General Silva said.