3 May 2021 12:00 am Views - 158
By Jamila Husain
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday was given a detailed report on the oxygen supply presently available in the country which is required to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients and was also informed that Sri Lanka is ready to import oxygen from other countries including Singapore if the necessity arises.
Government sources told Daily Mirror that while sufficient stocks of oxygen is presently available, if a need arises, Sri Lanka would discuss with some countries including Singapore seeking the possibility of importing oxygen.
Sri Lanka presently has two main suppliers of oxygen and they have informed the Health Ministry that they have adequate stocks to meet the current demand.
However the Health Ministry is continuously assessing the situation, considering the growing number of infected patients reported daily.
In a meeting held yesterday with health officials, President Rajapaksa was also detailed over the latest developments as well as the condition in the hospitals islandwide.
While ICUs are filled to their maximum, more centers will be put up and equipped if the number of patients continues to rise considerably.
Meanwhile health officials have urged people to stay at home and go out only if necessary, adhering strictly to health guidelines, warning that if the number of infected patients rise sharply in the coming days, it will overburden the health system.
“Still chances are high of preventing the disease from spreading and we urge everyone to cooperate,” senior officials from the Health Ministry said.
Yesterday the Health Ministry, in a set of new guidelines urged the public not to entertain visitors in their homes and not have parties and weddings at homes.