Fmr. Health Minister calls for collective efforts to fight pandemic

• The main issue pertaining to the current situation with regard to the pandemic is the inability to trace whether the current variant is a mutation of an already existing one or altogether a whole new variant 

By Yohan Perera   

Whilst stating that top priority should be given to suppress the COVID- 19 pandemic which has raised its head once again, former Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday called for a joint effort of all parties and stakeholders to overcome the situation.   Dr. Senaratne told a press conference that the present situation was not favourable to hold May Day rallies.   

“I call for a joint effort of all parties and other stakeholders to fight the pandemic and top priority should be given for it and to forget all other issues including the Port City Economic Commission Bill. The situation in the country is not conducive to hold May Day rallies,” the MP said.   

He also called for the setting up of COVID- Hospitals in all districts. “The ICUs in hospitals are getting full and precautions should be taken to contain this situations. I was charged with spending state funds on the Neville Fernando Hospital without acquiring it to the government. However, Sri Lanka would have been in a more serious situation if not for this hospital,” he added.   

“The main issue pertaining to the current situation with regard to the pandemic is the inability to trace whether the current variant is a mutation of an already existing one or altogether a whole new variant that had come from abroad,” he said.   

Asked whether he would propose for a total lock down, the MP said such a step would not help as the disease had already spread across the nation.