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Health Ministry says reopening not suitable yet

14 Sep 2021

  • Covid caseloads 2-3 times more than previous reopenings
  • SL moving towards ‘conducive’ environment to reopen
By Buddhika Samaraweera Pointing out that the current number of daily Covid-19 infections is two or three times higher than the number of daily Covid-19 infections reported during the previous occasions that the country was reopened after a lockdown, the Health Ministry has said that the current situation is not 100% suitable for reopening the country. During a media briefing held yesterday (13), the Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General (DDG), and the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said that it is not possible to be 100% satisfied with the current situation and that everyone should act in a responsible manner. “Currently, the number of daily Covid-19 infections is two or three times higher than the number of cases reported during the previous occasions on which the country was reopened. Therefore, not only the Government but also the people have a great responsibility to act responsibly in this situation,” he emphasised. He made these comments when he was questioned by the media as to whether there is a possibility of reopening the country, given the reduction of daily Covid-19 infections and deaths.  However, Dr. Herath said that while there is no suitable environment for reopening the country so far, the country is moving towards such a conducive environment. “I am not saying that the reduction of Covid-19 infections and deaths is a green light to open the country, but we are moving towards that green light,” he claimed. Meanwhile, speaking to the media yesterday, the Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that there was a decrease in the number of Covid-19 patients reported in the last few days. In addition, the number of Oxygen (O2)-dependent patients and critically ill patients has also dropped significantly, he said, and added: “This is a good trend.” Taking into account the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus and the increase of the number of Covid-19 deaths in the country, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on 20 August, declared a lockdown status till 30 August which was then extended till 6 September. At a meeting attended by high level Government officials on 10 September, the lockdown status was again extended till 21 September. According to the Epidemiology Unit, Sri Lanka, as of 11.30 p.m. on 12 September, had recorded 11,296 Covid-19 deaths, while the total number of infections stood at 485,922, of which a total of 412,812 patients had recovered.


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