Vaccination programme underway in the country

COLOMBO (News1st): Vaccination centres were in operation across the country today as well. Based on the President's advice, the first dose was administered to people above 30 years at centres in which the second dose is being administered. Arrangements have been made to administer vaccines at the residences of people who cannot leave their homes. Sri Lanka received 727,380 AstraZeneca vaccines from Japan today. These jabs are to be used to administer the first and second doses in the Kegalle district. The health ministry says it has decided to increase the number of healthcare personnel if the daily tally of COVID-19 cases continues to rise. Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath said that tri-forces personnel and healthcare workers in the private sector would be incorporated into the system. Sri Lanka's COVID-19 cases have been rising rapidly in the last few days. The country's daily tally of infections crossed 2000 for the ninth consecutive day yesterday. Sri Lanka confirmed the highest number of deaths in a single day yesterday, with the figure standing at 98. Meanwhile, the congestion of patients at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in which an emergency situation was declared has been reduced. This was after a decision was reached to quarantine people at their homes. The hospital's director Dr. Shelton Perera said that a ward with 210 beds is currently treating 160 patients. The Kandy General Hospital, which has 300 beds to treat COVID-19 cases, is currently treating 188 patients. The 160 beds at the Teldeniya Hospital continue to remain occupied. 230 infected people are receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Hospital which can treat upto 240 people at a time. A spokesperson for the Ratnapura Hospital said that 5 wards are being used to treat COVID-19 cases. Nearly 100 infected people are receiving treatment at the facility. Meanwhile, a decision has been made to increase oxygen supplies at the Colombo National Hospital. The spread of the highly contagious Delta variant has caused a spike in infections. Tests conducted on samples by the Sri Jayawardenapura University's Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine have shown that the Delta variant is present in 26 areas across 11 districts.