•  The number of treatment centres has gone up to 80 where there are 11,766 beds

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

A total of 28 COVID-19 patients are currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of hospitals islandwide, Deputy Director-General of Public Health Dr. Hemantha Herath said yesterday.  

Addressing the media, he said they had to increase the number of treatment centres considering the daily active cases.  

“Accordingly, the number of treatment centres has gone up to 80 where there are 11,766 beds. There are only 6,747 beds being occupied at present,” he underlined.  

He also said they had adequate beds in ICUs as well at hospitals and there was no shortage of beds.  Meanwhile, commenting on the new variant in the country Dr. Herath said, the majority of cases belonging to the new variant had been detected from quarantine centres whereas a few cases had been found at community level in Avissawella and Vavuniya.  
“As far as the cases in quarantine centres are concerned, there was no risk as those infected with the new variant will have to complete the full quarantine period before they are released to the society,” he said.  

With regard to the cases identified in Avissawella and Vavuniya, Dr Herath said they were studying the cases and relevant actions would be taken soon.