Senior doctors at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital have urged visitors to refrain from visiting warded patients, warning that there would be a disaster if a COVID-19 infected individual visits the hospital.

A senior consultant from the hospital told Daily Mirror that they appealed to all visitors to stay away till the COVID-19 outbreak subsides in the country saying that cancer patients were vulnerable to catch the infection as they have weak immune systems.

Staff and doctors of the hospital were also at risk from these visitors. Stating that if any medical staff or doctor contracted the virus from a visitor, other staff members, including the doctors would have to undergo quarantine which would lead to patients not receiving their daily treatment.

Consultants also requested those cancer patients who were well at home, but given monthly appointments to visit the clinics, to refrain from visiting the hospital for a few weeks till the Health Ministry declares that the country was safe.

"We would like to tell these patients, who are well but who have to visit once a month for treatment, to stay at home till the situation subsides. All consultants will attend to all these patients once the risks subsides and will work overtime to treat them. If those who need immediate treatment again, we request them to come to hospital immediately. These patients travel long distances from home and they should not be exposed to any virus infected individual," the consultants said.

Sri Lanka has so far detected 59 COVID-19 infected patients, while over 230 are under observation in designated hospitals across the country.(JAMILA HUSAIN)