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Major rise in National Hospital Covid-19 patients 

24 Jan 2022

 
  • Similar hike in supplemental O2-reliant patients 
  • Routine surgery prioritisation to take a backseat 
  • Daily national caseloads still above 800 
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera  The number of Covid-19-infected patients being admitted to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo, including those reliant on supplemental oxygen (O2), has risen significantly, and therefore, priority for routine surgery would have to be reduced in the coming days. Speaking at a media briefing held yesterday (24), NHSL Deputy Director Dr. Chandana Gajanayake said: “There is an increase in the number of Covid-19 patients being admitted to the NHSL. In addition, the number of infected patients who are dependent on O2 has also increased. Therefore, the priority for routine surgery will have to be reduced as Covid-19 patients have to be treated.”  Dr. Gajanayake also urged the people to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible. He added that there are currently enough vaccines and vaccination centres in the country.  “I would like to request everyone to act responsibly. If anyone has not yet obtained the vaccines, please obtain them as soon as possible. We are currently seeing the signs of an increase in the Covid-19 pandemic again.”  Sources at the NHSL told The Morning yesterday that four new wards had been set aside during the course of last week alone to treat Covid-19 patients. The sources added that before that, there were only three wards for Covid-19 patients. According to the sources, the number of Covid-19 patients currently being treated at the NHSL is approximately 150.  In August 2021, during the deadly third wave of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) said that over 50% of Covid-19 patients receiving treatment at the NHSL in Colombo were dependent on O2 while about 25 patients were receiving intensive care unit (ICU) treatment.  “Approximately 600 patients are currently receiving treatment at the NHSL, of which about 305 patients are dependent on oxygen. During the previous Covid-19 waves, we observed that only about 20-30% of patients required oxygen. However, now, about 50% of patients face breathing difficulties and are dependent on oxygen.” Yesterday, Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) President Upul Rohana told the media that there was a large increase in the number of Covid-19 infections in many parts of the country. He added that many infected people are also being hospitalised at present. According to the Epidemiology Unit, as of 10 a.m. yesterday, Sri Lanka has recorded 15,299 Covid-19 deaths while the total number of infections stood at 601,886, of which a total of 576,324 patients have recovered. The number of Covid-19 infections reported daily in Sri Lanka has increased significantly at present, according to the Epidemiology Unit, with daily caseloads surpassing 800 for several consecutive days. Over the past few weeks, 600 to 700 cases of Covid-19 infections have been reported daily, but the highest number of Covid-19 infections recorded in a single day during the course of last week was 845 on 22 January. In addition, 829 cases were reported on 19 January, 827 on 20 January, 840 on 21 January, and 838 on 23 January. In August 2021, many Covid-19 patients had been left without beds at key hospitals due to the sudden increase in the number of Covid-19 patients being hospitalised and the capacity of the units allocated for the treatment of Covid-19 patients at hospitals having reached their limits. Accordingly, it was reported at that time that the Karapitiya, Ragama, Kalubowila, and Ratnapura Teaching Hospitals were among the worst hit, with many Covid-19 patients seated or lying on the hospital floors with no beds being available for them.


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