Covid caseload disconcertingly high, says senior health official

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The number of daily COVID cases remained above 1,000 for the 15th consecutive day on 13 February, according to Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath.

Dr. Herath said 1,150 cases had been reported on Monday and 31 deaths reported.

 “The number of deaths has increased during the last few weeks. This is because cases are increasing, and I don’t mean the number of reported cases alone,” he said.

Most of those who had contracted Covid-19 are asymptomatic, he said. As the variant spread through the population those who had weak immunity and with underlying medical conditions would be affected.

 “Right now, most people who are affected are relatively young people who are double-jabbed. However, as more and more people get the virus, those with noncommunicable diseases and weak immune systems will get infected. And these people will have severe symptoms; they will have to be hospitalized and some of them may even die,” Dr. Herath said.

Therefore, the spread of the virus had to be controlled even if Omicron was relatively mild, Dr. Herath said.  “The most important thing is to follow health guidelines; the second is to get vaccinated and the third is to self-isolate if you get infected. If these three measures are adopted, there won’t be a great rise in hospitalisations. As long as the health sector can handle the caseload, we will be fine,” Dr. Herath said.