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Third wave expected in May: PHIs say

12 Apr 2021 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

  • Despite several warnings, most people were seen going about their day-to-day lives in public without strictly following health guidelines
  • This resulted in the public also assuming that things were back to normal and the fear for the coronavirus dying a natural death
  • Situations in other countries show that despite most people being vaccinated, third and fourth waves resulting in fresh lockdowns being enforced

By Easwaran Rutnam  

Public health inspectors are expecting the coronavirus  third wave to hit Sri Lanka in May after the public grossly  disregarded the health guidelines ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New  Year. 

The Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Association said that  despite several warnings, most people were seen going about their  day-to-day lives in public without strictly following the coronavirus  health guidelines.   
PHI Association Secretary Mahendra Balasuriya told Daily  Mirror that the Mrs. Sri Lanka drama, the environment issue and the  contaminated oil issue overshadowed the more serious issue linked to the  coronavirus which was developing in the background.

   
He said that this resulted in the public also assuming that  things were back to normal and the fear for the coronavirus dying a  natural death.   “It will be difficult to instil that fear in the public once again,” he said.   
Balasuriya noted that the public have been going about  their normal activities ahead of the New Year, be it while shopping or  in public transport and at public events, without even following the  basic coronavirus health guidelines.   


“This is very unfortunate. They will understand how serious this is only when the third wave hits us. We have been warning about this. Now it is too late. We will need to suffer the consequences and  deal with it,” he said.   
Balasuriya said that the authorities must now prepare hospitals and other facilities to deal with the expected rapid rise in  coronavirus infected people and emergence of new clusters from May.   


He said that if PCR tests are carried out effectively the results will show a rise in infections from May.   
Balasuriya said that the public and the health authorities  will need to take the responsibility for what to expect after the  Sinhala and Tamil New Year.   


The PHI Association also noted that people assume that since they are vaccinated, they are 100 per cent safe.   He said that situations in other countries show that despite most people being vaccinated there have been third and fourth waves resulting in fresh lockdowns being enforced.        

 

 

  • This is very unfortunate. They will understand how serious this is only when the third wave hits us