Covid-19 infections on the increase – Dr. Hemantha Herath | Sunday Observer
“Take fourth vaccine dose as soon as possible”

Covid-19 infections on the increase – Dr. Hemantha Herath

30 July, 2022

Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said a new outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly around the world and there was an increase in the number of Covid-19 infected people in Sri Lanka during the past few days.

Dr. Herath called upon the public to be careful to avoid the Covid-19 infection and to get the fourth Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The Deputy Director General of Health Services said that it is recommended to wear face masks especially in public places, when using public transport and indoor places where a large number of people gather and other health guidelines should also be followed properly.

Acting Chief Epidemiologist and Specialist Dr. Samitha Ginige said there will be no expiry of the Covid-19 vaccine on July 31. The company has confirmed its period till October 31 through scientific research and has been approved by the World Health Organization following proper procedures. Therefore, anyone should not have any fear of getting the vaccine.

Commenting on the Monkeypox disease, which is being discussed these days, he said that this is not a new disease, and that it was first reported in West African countries in 1970. But it was not reported as a high epidemic and it was clear that patients were reported from European countries at the same time in the past few months.

Generally, its symptoms are blisters on the skin (face, limbs and mouth), fever, swelling of the lymph nodes and the lifeless condition of the body. There should not be any undue fear over this and relatively it does not spread on a large scale like Covid-19, Dr. Ginige said.

He said that a single infected person spreads this disease to only one person and the current evidence shows that it does not spread rapidly among the community, it does not become fatal and that the infection is reported only among close associates. Three patients have been reported from the South Asian continent so far and our health system is ready to tackle it and people should not have any undue fears.

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