The number of Covid-19 deaths reported up to August 14 was 5,775 and over 95 percent of those deaths (5,295) were unvaccinated people, Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa said.
He told a media briefing at the HPB in Colombo on Friday that the percentage of those over 60 who died due to Covid-19 by August 14, was 67 percent and 85 percent of them had Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, heart diseases, kidney and liver diseases.
Dr. Batuwanthudawa said that the percentage of people who had NCDs was 64 percent of the Covid-19 deaths reported by Thursday which was 6,600.
He called upon all people above 30 to visit the nearest Vaccination Centre as soon as possible and obtain whatever Covid-19 vaccination to reduce the risk of dying from Covid-19 and avoid ICU admission.
Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath said that at present, 95 ICU beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients and according to uncaonfirmed statistics, three doctors, one nursing officer and two other health staff members had died due to Covid-19 so far.