News
DDGH tight-lipped on real situation
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday told the media that he might not be allowed to speak to the media again if he spoke candidly about the trajectory of the pandemic in the coming days.
Dr. Herath made this statement when a journalist asked him to comment candidly on the situation Sri Lankans would face in the coming days.
“There are a lot of new cases. More people come with symptoms and the percentage of those who need oxygen too has increased. I urge the citizens to follow good health practices and not expect the health officials alone to solve this,” Dr. Herath said.
He added that there were 224 COVID treatment centres, with over 35,000 beds. Already 32,317 beds were in use.
Meanwhile, Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, G. Wijesuriya said that they admitted about 25 children with COVID a day.
“If your kids show signs of COVID like fever, coughing, difficulties in breathing, lack of appetite, etc., please seek medical advice. Don’t try to treat it at home. Take them to a government hospital,” he said.
President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh told The Island that the Delta variant was worsening the pandemic situation and that neither the government nor the people should let their guard down just because the vaccination process had picked up.
Kumudesh said that they had warned in early July that a new wave would emerge within four weeks, if the Health Ministry had not increased PCR testing and gene sequencing. By July the collection of samples, even at hospitals, had dropped significantly. There was also no attempt to test potential hotspots and preempt any outbreaks, Kumudesh said. Therefore, the data issued by the Ministry did not reflect the ground reality.
“We saw similar developments in late March – early April. But we again end up making the wrong decisions. We said it was highly likely that we would see a new outbreak in about four weeks and here we are. Not only us, but anyone who understands what is going on made the same prediction. The people must get vaccinated and take precautions.”
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took delivery of the EX- United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC DECISIVE, provided by the United States to SLN, at a ceremony held at the United
States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on 02 Dec 25. The event was also attended by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
The ship formally joined the SLN fleet on 02 December under the pennant number P 628 and the main mast of the ship will fly the National Flag effective from that date.
Aiming to strengthen and develop partnerships to overcome common challenges in the maritime domain, the U.S. Coast Guard has previously provided 03 ships to SLN and they are currently patrolling island waters under the names of ‘Samudura’ (P 621), ‘Gajabahu’(P 626), and ‘Vijayabahu’ (P 627).
As an extension of partnership ties that bring value to each other’s services, Ex-USCGC DECISIVE was transferred as the fourth ship to be handed to SLN.
Ex-USCGC DECISIVE, a ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’, measures 64m in length, and having endurance of 6000 NM at cruising speed. Further, she has been designed for a
crew of 100 and is equipped with weapons and machinery.
The ship which was used by the U.S. Coast Guard has rendered exceptional service during her tenure by curbing illegal activities, including smuggling of narcotics in U.S. waters.
Sri Lanka inherits an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is seven times larger than the landmass. In such a backdrop, the Navy is determined to deploy this vessel in wide-ranging
operations that include the conservation of marine resources in the region and the search and rescue of naval and fishing communities in distress. Thereby, the Navy will be able to utilize
this vessel efficiently in the future to achieve the national aspiration, while ensuring safe and secure seas for all economic affairs.
The formal handing over – taking over ceremony was also distinguished by the presence of the Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer and Director of Domain & Integration Services U.S. Coast
Guard, James L. Knight, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for South and Southeast Asia, Dr. Andrew Byers, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Commanding Officer designate of P 628, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya as well as a group of officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in United States and the State Department
of the United State
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600hrs today [5th December] confirms that 486 persons have died and another 341 persons are missing after the devastating weather conditions in the past week.
171,778 persons have been displaced and have taken refuge at 1,231 safety centers established by the government.
Death toll rises to 607, missing persons reduce to 214 at 1800hrs today (5)
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486 dead, 341 missing, 171,778 displaced as at 0600hrs today [05]
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