Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that the health sector and the Presidential Task Force have controlled the current pandemic situation in a very systematic and strong manner. As a result, steps have been taken to increase the number of hospital beds to 4000-5000 in a very short period of time. He also mentioned that the number of beds in ICUs will be increased in the next few days. He was speaking at the Cabinet briefing held at the Government Information Department today (04). The Minister further said that the process of Covid control needs the support of the people as well as the support of the health and security sectors. The Minister also said that this third wave of Covid will create a new situation for the infected patients by creating more complications than before. The Minister also said that with the introduction of a special telephone number 1906, a programme has been initiated to diagnose the disease through PCR testing and transport patients who are currently staying at home to hospitals immediately. Minister Ramesh Pathirana also said that the government has 345,000 doses of the vaccine given by India and in view of the current crisis in India, attention has been drawn to obtain the vaccine from other countries where the vaccine is in excess. Speaking at the briefing, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the government has the money to purchase the Sputnik vaccine from Russia and that the vaccine will be available in the near future.