Death of first medical officer could lead country to alarming situation: GMOA

Following the death of the first Sri Lankan doctor due to COVID-19 infection, the Government Medical Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) today said that the authorities and the public should pay more attention over the spreading of the virus.

Addressing the media, GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the country is heading towards a dangerous situation with the death of a doctor at the Karapitiya Hospital.

The deceased has been identified as Dr. Gayan Danthanarayana, 32, a resident of Heenkanda, Ragama. During the last few days, the number of COVID-19 infections reported were over 700, Dr. Aluthge said.

Therefore, collective measures should be taken to control the spreading of the virus, he said.

"Vaccinating people will help to curb the spreading. Not only the frontline workers, everyone should be vaccinated," he said.

The Government should import the most effective vaccines and provide them to every person in the country, he said. 

Moreover, the PCR tests should be increased as much as possible and the results should be given within 24-hours for proper identification," Dr. Aluthge said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)