brand logo

Post Avurudu celebrations: Spike in Covid-19 cases likely in coming weeks    

18 Apr 2021

  • Public adherence to health guidelines poor: Chief Epidemiologist 

 By Yumiko Perera    Although Sri Lanka has made great progress in controlling the spread of Covid-19, public movements have increased during this festive season, according to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, and the threat is not over yet, The Sunday Morning learnt.  While a series of health guidelines had been issued by Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, to protect the public against Covid-19 during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Dr. Samaraweera noted that only time would tell as to whether those guidelines have proven to be successful.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Dr. Samaraweera said: “Even during the December holidays, there was a significant level of public movement in the country, especially in the capital. Four to five weeks after the holidays, we experienced an increase in the number of cases being detected. Similarly, there has been a lot of public movement during the festive season, especially given that various public gatherings have taken place during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.”  Emphasising that many do not seem to be taking Covid-19 health guidelines seriously, he added: “Had there been Covid-19-positive patients amongst these crowds, then there is a theoretical risk of more people getting infected. If that has happened, it would be reflected in a rise in the numbers of patients in the coming weeks.”  Efforts made by The Sunday Morning to contact National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Gen. Shavendra Silva, for more insight on the matter, proved futile.       


More News..