Covid-19 situation improves with significant decline in positive cases

But no room for complacency says State Minister

By Suresh Perera

The overall Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka has improved with the number of positive cases reported from across the country witnessing a decline over the past two weeks.

“We have observed a significant drop in numbers testing positive for the virus, which is a welcome development, but certainly not a reason for complacency”, says Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid Disease Control.

Overall, positive cases based on PCR screening have dipped to 3% from the earlier 6%, she said. “We have also been able to reduce PCR testing as a result”.

Positive Covid-19 cases, which spiked to almost one thousand per day earlier, have dipped to below 400 over the past fortnight.

Asked whether the ongoing inoculation drive had played a role in keeping the numbers down, the State Minister said the vaccination campaign, which began on January 29, had helped in tackling the pandemic situation as it takes three weeks to form antibodies.

Even though Covid-19 numbers have tumbled, the public should continue to adhere to health safety guidelines and avoid crowded places in particular, Dr. Fernandopulle cautioned.

It should be borne in mind that a sudden surge could always happen as seen now in the United States, Italy and India, she warned. “In Sri Lanka also, we had to face the repercussions of relaxing restrictions during Christmas in 2020 and the New Year”.

On whether there’s a move to restrict inter-provincial travel during the forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the State Minister there was still no such formal decision.

There is no issue in people observing traditional customs and celebrating the New Year as long as health safety measures are followed, Dr. Fernandopulle emphasized. “If there’s complacency, we will have to pay the price for it”.

Meanwhile, health officials said that more than 800,000 people in the Colombo and Gampaha districts have already been administered the Covid jab.

The inoculation drive was launched in Sri Lanka with the donation of 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.