By Yumiko Perera
In the wake of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the detection of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the community has raised several red flags. Although there has been a slight reduction in the number of cases being reported, as well as the number of fatalities on average, neither the health sector nor the general public can afford to let their guard down at this point in time.
Against this backdrop, the health authorities of the country have put forth measures to expedite inoculation amongst the masses.
While several different variants of the virus, dubbed “variants of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), had been detected across the island, especially with the detection of the Delta variant, health authorities have requested the general public to remain extra cautious.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, earlier this week, ramped up the vaccination drive, recording the highest number of vaccinations rolled out in a single day on 30 June.
Random PCR tests and rapid antigen tests (RATs) would commence throughout the country to identify if the Delta variant had spread amongst the community any further, The Sunday Morning learnt.
With focus on fully inoculating individuals over 60 years of age, the health authorities also commenced administering the second jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine to individuals above the age of 70 at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area. In addition, the first dose of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine was administered to individuals over the age of 60 in the Western Province across 45 hospitals on 30 June.
While it is estimated that at least 60% of the population would have to be inoculated if the country aims to achieve herd immunity, at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat with the Special Committee on Covid-19 Control on the vaccination drive and future operations on 2 July, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed health sector officials to vaccinate all individuals over the 30 in the Western Province before 31 July.
The President further emphasised the need to inoculate a higher percentage of people in all parts of the country before September in a systematic manner following the receipt of vaccines that have been ordered, The Sunday Morning learnt.
Speaking to the media on Thursday (1), Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that 150,000 Sinopharm vaccines had been distributed within the Western Province, 100,000 within the Gampaha District, and 150,000 in the Colombo Regional Director of Health Service area.
He further went on to say that 50,000 doses of Sinopharm had also been distributed to the Colombo CMC area and 100,000 more doses to the Kalutara Regional Director of Health Services area.
“We started the vaccination process on Monday (28) and the priority had been given to individuals above the age of 60, as they have been the main target group in this vaccination drive,” he said.
Highlighting that there had been very little turnout earlier this week, Dr. Gunawardena further stated the turnout for vaccines had been high on 30 June.
Nearly 100,000 individuals had been vaccinated through the vaccination drive across the country, and he went on to say that the Ministry of Health planned on completing the vaccination programme within the Western Province by Friday (2).
“I earnestly request all the adults to go to the nearest vaccination centre, MOH office, or hospital and get your vaccine as soon as possible,” he added.
The health authorities have also emphasised the need for the general public to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 health guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, as well as to safeguard themselves from the highly transmissible Delta variant that has been detected in the country over the last few weeks.
School teachers to be vaccinated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed health officials to begin immunising school teachers, and according to State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana, a discussion had been held with the participation of Health Ministry officials in this regard. Prof. Jayasumana further went on to state that the inoculation of school teachers would commence from next week onward and that they plan on completing the vaccination of school teachers within a week. Furthermore, while schoolchildren and young adults are still far down in the priority list for the time being, as the country is prioritising the inoculation of individuals aged 30 and above, Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Education Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera shared that several requests have been made to the Ministry of Health to inoculate schoolchildren and university students, however, no concrete decisions have been made in that regard as of yet. It is estimated that at least 750,000 vaccines would be required if Advanced Level (A/L) and Ordinary Level (O/L) students across the island are to be inoculated. As per Epidemiology Unit statistics, 383,329 doses of the Covishield second jab have been rolled out; however, many are still awaiting the second jab owing to the shortage in supply. Moreover, 1,876,293 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine have been administered as the first jab, along with 808,743 vaccines as the second jab. Meanwhile, 114,795 doses of Sputnik V have also been administered as the first dose, along with 14,427 as the second jab as of 2 July.
Spread of variants, monitoring, and detections Deputy Director General of Public Health Services and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said only the Madiwela and Kahathuduwa cases relating to the Delta variant have been confirmed so far. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, he stated: “Only five cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed so far, and all others are suspected cases. We are currently monitoring the situation very closely, and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is in the process of obtaining samples from various parts of the country.” University of Sri Jayewardenepura Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said the Delta variant is evidently more transmissible than the other variants the country has witnessed, noting that, however, they have been obtaining samples and conducting studies in this regard. “No new detections have been made in this regard thus far, apart from the Madiwela and Kahathuduwa cases. However, the reports of the recent studies that have been conducted should be available in the near future,” he reiterated. Public Health Services Deputy Director General and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday (3) revealed that 14 new cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 have been detected in the country. Five cases had been confirmed previously from the Madiwela and Kahathuduwa areas. University of Sri Jayewardenepura Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said that they could not comment on it. However, he said they had submitted a report in this regard to the Ministry of Health. Speaking to The Sunday Morning previously, Dr. Jeewandara noted that the Delta variant is evidently more transmissible than the other variants the country has witnessed, and that they have been obtaining samples and conducting studies in this regard. PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM
In the wake of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the detection of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the community has raised several red flags. Although there has been a slight reduction in the number of cases being reported, as well as the number of fatalities on average, neither the health sector nor the general public can afford to let their guard down at this point in time.
Against this backdrop, the health authorities of the country have put forth measures to expedite inoculation amongst the masses.
While several different variants of the virus, dubbed “variants of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), had been detected across the island, especially with the detection of the Delta variant, health authorities have requested the general public to remain extra cautious.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, earlier this week, ramped up the vaccination drive, recording the highest number of vaccinations rolled out in a single day on 30 June.
Random PCR tests and rapid antigen tests (RATs) would commence throughout the country to identify if the Delta variant had spread amongst the community any further, The Sunday Morning learnt.
With focus on fully inoculating individuals over 60 years of age, the health authorities also commenced administering the second jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine to individuals above the age of 70 at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area. In addition, the first dose of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine was administered to individuals over the age of 60 in the Western Province across 45 hospitals on 30 June.
While it is estimated that at least 60% of the population would have to be inoculated if the country aims to achieve herd immunity, at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat with the Special Committee on Covid-19 Control on the vaccination drive and future operations on 2 July, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed health sector officials to vaccinate all individuals over the 30 in the Western Province before 31 July.
The President further emphasised the need to inoculate a higher percentage of people in all parts of the country before September in a systematic manner following the receipt of vaccines that have been ordered, The Sunday Morning learnt.
Speaking to the media on Thursday (1), Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that 150,000 Sinopharm vaccines had been distributed within the Western Province, 100,000 within the Gampaha District, and 150,000 in the Colombo Regional Director of Health Service area.
He further went on to say that 50,000 doses of Sinopharm had also been distributed to the Colombo CMC area and 100,000 more doses to the Kalutara Regional Director of Health Services area.
“We started the vaccination process on Monday (28) and the priority had been given to individuals above the age of 60, as they have been the main target group in this vaccination drive,” he said.
Highlighting that there had been very little turnout earlier this week, Dr. Gunawardena further stated the turnout for vaccines had been high on 30 June.
Nearly 100,000 individuals had been vaccinated through the vaccination drive across the country, and he went on to say that the Ministry of Health planned on completing the vaccination programme within the Western Province by Friday (2).
“I earnestly request all the adults to go to the nearest vaccination centre, MOH office, or hospital and get your vaccine as soon as possible,” he added.
The health authorities have also emphasised the need for the general public to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 health guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, as well as to safeguard themselves from the highly transmissible Delta variant that has been detected in the country over the last few weeks.
School teachers to be vaccinated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed health officials to begin immunising school teachers, and according to State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana, a discussion had been held with the participation of Health Ministry officials in this regard. Prof. Jayasumana further went on to state that the inoculation of school teachers would commence from next week onward and that they plan on completing the vaccination of school teachers within a week. Furthermore, while schoolchildren and young adults are still far down in the priority list for the time being, as the country is prioritising the inoculation of individuals aged 30 and above, Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Education Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera shared that several requests have been made to the Ministry of Health to inoculate schoolchildren and university students, however, no concrete decisions have been made in that regard as of yet. It is estimated that at least 750,000 vaccines would be required if Advanced Level (A/L) and Ordinary Level (O/L) students across the island are to be inoculated. As per Epidemiology Unit statistics, 383,329 doses of the Covishield second jab have been rolled out; however, many are still awaiting the second jab owing to the shortage in supply. Moreover, 1,876,293 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine have been administered as the first jab, along with 808,743 vaccines as the second jab. Meanwhile, 114,795 doses of Sputnik V have also been administered as the first dose, along with 14,427 as the second jab as of 2 July.
Spread of variants, monitoring, and detections Deputy Director General of Public Health Services and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said only the Madiwela and Kahathuduwa cases relating to the Delta variant have been confirmed so far. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, he stated: “Only five cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed so far, and all others are suspected cases. We are currently monitoring the situation very closely, and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is in the process of obtaining samples from various parts of the country.” University of Sri Jayewardenepura Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said the Delta variant is evidently more transmissible than the other variants the country has witnessed, noting that, however, they have been obtaining samples and conducting studies in this regard. “No new detections have been made in this regard thus far, apart from the Madiwela and Kahathuduwa cases. However, the reports of the recent studies that have been conducted should be available in the near future,” he reiterated. Public Health Services Deputy Director General and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday (3) revealed that 14 new cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 have been detected in the country. Five cases had been confirmed previously from the Madiwela and Kahathuduwa areas. University of Sri Jayewardenepura Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said that they could not comment on it. However, he said they had submitted a report in this regard to the Ministry of Health. Speaking to The Sunday Morning previously, Dr. Jeewandara noted that the Delta variant is evidently more transmissible than the other variants the country has witnessed, and that they have been obtaining samples and conducting studies in this regard. PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM