COVID cases detected at present contracted virus 04 weeks ago; SLMA Chief

COLOMBO (News 1st); Medical Experts in Sri Lanka including the Government Medical Officers Association and the Sri Lanka Medical Association have called on the government to impose tough travel restrictions given the present spike in COVID-19 cases. Dr. Padma Gunarathne, the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association said the COVID-19 cases detected at present are those who contracted the virus around 04 weeks ago. "They develop symptoms 02 weeks after contracting the virus and they are treated for 02 weeks in the Intensive Care Unit. Unfortunately, some don't make it after another two weeks," she pointed out. She said that the President and the Cabinet of Ministers were informed about a worst-case scenario in the coming weeks at Monday's (10) meeting on the present pandemic situation. 'The variant we are seeing at present is spreading fast and it is unlike the variant detected in the first and second COVID-19 waves in the country," she said adding that the delay in receiving PCR test results, attribute to a COVID positive person infecting many more people. Isolating Grama Niladhari Divisions alone will not be enough to control the spread of the coronavirus as the new variant has already spread to many areas, Dr. Gunarathne warned adding that it was made clear to the government that vaccination alone is not the solution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Prasad Colambage warned that COVID-19 fatalities could reach 250 deaths for 10 days when considering the present average of 25 deaths per day. "There is no point in closing the stable door after the horse has bolted," he said.