• The number of deaths and infections related to the pandemic had been brought down to a minimum 

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

Sri Lanka could claim to have successfully controlled the dreaded Covid 19 by now, as the number of deaths and infections related to the pandemic had been brought down to the minimum possible, Director, Government Epidemiology Unit, (GEU) Dr. Samitha Ginige said yesterday.   

However, he stressed that no one must get complacent on the rapidly pervasive epidemic as the possibility was there to re-emerge, if the people did not maintain vigilance to the fullest.  

“I urge the public to follow preventive guidelines and protocol like physical distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask or any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep the disease that has devastated the entire world as never before,” Dr. Ginige stressed.  

Dr. Ginige emphasised the importance of having the second booster or a fourth jab to prevent a Covid 19 infection particularly for those over 60 years of age and patients above 20 years of age with non-communicable diseases.  
According to the GEU statistics, the total cumulative number of Covid 19 infections stood at 663,386 with 16,514 deaths by Thursday. There were 14 new infections but no deaths in the last few days. The number of those vaccinated with the first jab was 17,070,678, the second jab had been given to 145,00,829 while the third jab to 79,77,603 persons. The second booster had been given to 1,855.  

Though Sri Lanka has been able to put the Covid 19 under control by now, the disease is in full swing in many parts of the world.  Sri Lanka must take all possible measures to prevent foreigners and infected Sri Lankans entering the country with the virus. Therefore, the security at our entry points has to be strengthened, he said.