(PICTURES) President visits Army-improvised COVID-19 hospital

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa inspected the COVID-19 Intermediate Treatment Center in Seeduwa improvised by the Sri Lanka Army on Tuesday (18).

It is the first-ever largest COVID-19 Hospital in the country and consists of 03 wards.

The hospital, equipped with all vital health facilities including emergency treatment unit, isolation sections, resuscitation units, ICU and medical stores, was improvised by the Army in less than a week to be in line with the government's decision to increase the bed-capacity all over the country in the wake of resurgence of the 3rd COVID-19 wave in the country.

It has the capacity to accommodate 1,200 patients at the initial stage after its opening.

COVID-19 infections that cannot be treated at home but do not show serious symptoms are to be treated here.

It aims to prevent congestion in hospitals and provide an opportunity for medical staff to pay more attention to critically ill patients.

It also specializes in providing medical care, including medication, to patients with long-term treatment of non-communicable diseases.

The treatment will be carried out jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Army Medical Corps.