Assistance of private hospitals in Colombo not required yet for treatment

• If any patient from the non isolated area gets tested positive for the COVID-19, then they have been informed to immediately contact their area Medical Officer of Health in their area

By JAMILA HUSAIN

With Colombo turning into a hotspot for COVID-19 infections, health authorities said they had sufficient facilities to treat the surge in patients and there was no requirement at the moment to seek the assistance of private hospitals for treating patients. 

Officials from the Health Ministry said the government was well equipped to treat the rising number of patients and authorities were capable of handling the situation.  

Army Commander and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Lt. General Shavendra Silva also reiterated that presently health authorities could manage and there was no requirement in hospitalizing COVID-19 patients in private hospitals.  
“ If there is a requirement we will always see it,” Silva said.  

Till last evening, over 4000 patients were detected from Colombo alone, all linked to the Peliyagoda cluster with Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake calling for a two week lockdown of the city.  If any patient from the non isolated area gets tested positive for the COVID-19, then they have been informed to immediately contact their area Medical Officer of Health or their area Public Health Inspector who will immediately make arrangements to conduct a PCR and admit them to the relevant hospital.  

 “We have 6 MOH offices for Colombo North, Colombo Central, Colombo East, Colombo West and Borella. Patients can contact their respective MOH who will then divert them to the PHI,” Chief Medical Officer of Health Colombo Municipal Council Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said.  Patients can contact their PHI officer directly as well or contact the Chief Medical Officer of the CMC.