With North facing possible Covid-19 crisis

Minister of Fisheries, Douglas Devananda on Wednesday requested the Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi to expand the ICU of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the Jaffna area.

Minister Devananda said that he had held talks with the Jaffna hospital administration recently and been informed that the number of ICU beds there for COVID-19 patients was limited.

The Minister said that an ICU unit which could treat at least 25 people should be established and a liquid oxygen plant installed at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital immediately. All COVID-19 patients who needed advance treatment in the Northern Province were transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the minister said.

“It is better if we can develop other hospitals in the province as well,” Minister Devananda said.

Tough restrictions would have to be imposed in Jaffna if religious leaders did not help health authorities, Northern Province Director General of Health Services, Dr. A. Kethiswaran said recently. Jaffna was facing a serious risk of having a full blown COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Dr. Kethiswaran said so during a meeting with religious leaders at his office. He said that a large number of devotees were seen at various places of religious worship during the festive period.

“None of these people follow health guidelines. It is impossible to control the virus because of this. At this rate we will have to impose travel restrictions in the Jaffna District. We need everyone’s support, if we are to avoid this fate.”