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More Covid deaths mean more asymptomatics than symptomatics

11 Feb 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Health Ministry has stated that considering the increasing number of deaths due to the Covid-19 infection, it can be assumed that there are more asymptomatic Covid-19 patients in the society than those with symptoms. Speaking at a media briefing held yesterday (10), Health Ministry’s Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said: “With the rising number of Covid-19-related deaths, we can assume that there are more asymptomatic patients in the society than those with Covid-19 symptoms who are undergoing tests.” Noting that the disease could be spread to a large number of people due to the movement of such asymptomatic patients, he said that it is important for everyone in that situation to follow the Covid-19-related health guidelines and obtain vaccines on time. “Asymptomatic Covid-19-infected patients can spread the disease to people in their homes. If there are weak individuals among such, they are more likely to develop complications and die from the Covid-19 infection, which is why the health authorities are always asking people to follow the health guidelines and to get vaccinated in a timely manner,” he elaborated. According to the Epidemiology Unit, as of 7 p.m. yesterday, Sri Lanka had recorded 15,723 Covid-19 deaths while the total number of infections stood at 624,545 of which a total of 593,975 patients had recovered. Meanwhile, claiming that the Health Ministry does not collect data on Covid-19 infections in a systematic manner, the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) recently alleged that there were about 40 times as many Covid-19 infections in the society as the number of infections mentioned in the media reports issued by the Health Ministry. Speaking to The Morning on 31 January, CMLS President Ravi Kumudesh said that due to the Health Ministry’s lack of interest in conducting Covid-19 tests and its reluctance to make scientific predictions about the pandemic situation, a misconception and underestimation of the Covid-19 pandemic was being socialised.  


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