No community spread yet, says Health Ministry

19 August 2021 10:05 pm - 66 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In a situation where patients infected with COVID-19 are detected every part of the country with no origin, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said there is no community transmission yet in the country.

Replying to a query posed by a journalist, he said technically, there is a difference between community transmission and patients being reported from the community.

“At present, there is no community spread of the virus, though several cases are being detected from the community,” he said.

However, Dr. Herath went on to admit the fact that the number of infections has gone up drastically.

“We are paying the price for the deliberate actions of the people in the recent past. We saw people behave irresponsibly and negligently ignoring health practices,” he pointed out.

“Thus, it is imperative to strictly stick to health guidelines and practices. Or else the situation would become more dreadful,” he added.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), community transmission “is evidenced by the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples (routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories)”.

When the source of transmission for a large number of people is not traceable, it is called a community transmission.

When asked of this from Public Health Inspectors Union Head Upul Rohana, he told the Daily Mirror that it is highly ridiculous to say that there is no community transmission in Sri Lanka

“At least 80% of active cases are reported with no origin at present. We, as working closely with the general public are well aware of the ground reality. The present situation is extremely harmful and dangerous,” he stressed.

“It is in fact baffling that the health authorities in Sri Lanka are still reluctant and stubborn to admit the fact that there is community transmission in the country,” he added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

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Comments - 66

Gn Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:20 PM

Orders of the pres to play it down? Risking peoples lives to save their career

N SENA Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:21 PM

ON WHOSE BEHALF ARE YOU GIVING THESE STATEMENT. BETTER TO RETIRE HONORABLY WITHOUT BEING A BOOT LICKER

JRDW Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:24 PM

Oh wow, I am blind, I can't see and I can't hear most Importantly I am dumb...

Misaru Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:24 PM

This it to the birds!

Sam Silva Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:26 PM

This guy must be a devoted supporter of the government or else he will be booted

Lalith Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:29 PM

So based on the good doctors comment they must have established and know who the infected persons were in contact with or exposed to, in order to contract the disease. It would be a far stretch to claim that their is such an efficient contact tracing system in place to support that position.

Spread Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:33 PM

Where is this community?

Philip de silva Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:35 PM

Who is this dumbo

Curious Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:37 PM

Brilliant. So i suppose u have traced each and every patient to the Brandix pokura and the peliyagoda fish market cluster. Or are there more clusters. SL will never have community transmission because Sir does not like that word!

A Fernando Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:39 PM

How about the irresponsible behavior of decision makers and the bunch of idiots who are governing

Jayaratne Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:43 PM

Joke of the century!

AFVF Thursday, 19 August 2021 10:52 PM

Pathetic statement. You are such a disgrace for the nation. How did you get your doctorate ?. The whole nation is under fire with this virus. Who's influencing you to make such idiotic statements

suresh Thursday, 19 August 2021 11:35 PM

Who said there was community spread? nonsense

Shiran fernando Friday, 20 August 2021 01:12 AM

He has the most required qualification to b a polititian. Congrads.

Nadi Karunaratne Friday, 20 August 2021 01:46 AM

It's rampant in the community, has spread island wide but nonetheless there is no community spread. Explain that to a man from Mars.

Raj Friday, 20 August 2021 02:18 AM

Hand over this chap to Taliban!

Herman Perera Friday, 20 August 2021 02:30 AM

If he speaks the TRUTH he might end up in a WHITE VAN.

Animals Friday, 20 August 2021 02:32 AM

Yes, no community in SL. all are animal heard

DD Friday, 20 August 2021 03:39 AM

Kehel Boda

Don Friday, 20 August 2021 04:18 AM

Being stupid and idiotic is one thing. However showing it to the world is at completely another level. I am ashamed to be a Sri Lankan in front of rest of the world, if these are the so called educated people produced by Sri Lankan education system. As I am a professional and living in Australia, I will find a hiding place. Anyway, I am in locked down as we have here intelligent politicians and professionals. Gold save Sri Lankan from these slaves.

Mokan Friday, 20 August 2021 04:19 AM

It is a disgrace to call him a Doctor

Ranga Friday, 20 August 2021 04:31 AM

Very funny …. Lol

Rani Friday, 20 August 2021 04:31 AM

Yes no community spread in Mars. Pissu double. What a joke. People are not stupid.

Herman Perera Friday, 20 August 2021 04:54 AM

He is an EDUCATED IDIOT.

L Perera Friday, 20 August 2021 11:30 AM

Not really - I would call him an intellectual fraud. :)

Kana Friday, 20 August 2021 05:19 AM

Air air air ha ha thanks again

Ranjan Friday, 20 August 2021 05:32 AM

Foreign diplomats based in Colombo must be laughing at you. What an irresponsible statement

Der Friday, 20 August 2021 05:33 AM

Don't try to imitate the commander Sir!

Be Fair Friday, 20 August 2021 05:50 AM

Possible. In a country that has more phones than its population, it must be spreading thru the mobile network. Can't it be?

Lumbini Friday, 20 August 2021 05:58 AM

This guy does understand neither community nor spread.

Nomads Friday, 20 August 2021 06:05 AM

Hope the health DG is playing to the tunes of his boss. Wake up be sincere for a moment or resign when there is interference for the sake of people lives.

Chandima Friday, 20 August 2021 06:13 AM

"At present, there is no community spread of the virus, though several cases are being detected from the community,” HAVE SOME DIGNITY MAN. You are a pathological liar.

Ranaweera Friday, 20 August 2021 06:15 AM

Are these heath experts blind?

Rajapaksa Fail Friday, 20 August 2021 06:18 AM

If you find a case in the community, spread by someone carrying the virus, that is community transmission. Are you even a doctor or just like bunty Putha did you pay for you qualification. This is absurd! Don't blame the public for your wrong doings. From day one you'll said there's no community transmission. If that's the case why would people need to be concerned? Stupid fool.

NightOwl Friday, 20 August 2021 06:21 AM

I'm rich but no money in the bank, no savings, no properties, but I'm rich..magulak kiyanawa

Saman Friday, 20 August 2021 06:31 AM

Oh God!

Ranjith Friday, 20 August 2021 06:48 AM

Ohh don't even think about community spread the spread we are having right now is very scary more than a community spread Are you happy now what bullshit

Perera Friday, 20 August 2021 06:54 AM

Mincing words and phrases will not help us. Better admit the real situation and try to handle it. In one thing it is true, some people still react irresponsible. Just yesterday I went through Maradana in Beruwela. Half of the people had no mask. Everywhere groups standing together for no other reason as to gossip, Most of the masks were missing, the masks from others were hanging on their chin. Fishsellers included. These places should be locked down, but not the whole country.

Saranga Walimuni Friday, 20 August 2021 07:01 AM

Biggest joke from a health expert

Ram Friday, 20 August 2021 07:08 AM

Never in Lanka.

Chris Friday, 20 August 2021 07:09 AM

None of the above comments even touched on the protests done during recent past, the term used for those are called Super Spreader events. Why blame only the government. Blame those politically biased trade unions too

Insane Friday, 20 August 2021 07:09 AM

Where is Wachala Wimale , Gonpila and Great grand father Vasu ? . No MEEEK for the past weeks , Must be Deaf , Dumb and Blind as well ! .

Inshi Friday, 20 August 2021 08:12 AM

A bitter truth is better than a sweet lie. People are dying through whatever spread. It is the responsibility of the authorities to take appropriate measures to prevent further loss of precious lives.

Tech Friday, 20 August 2021 08:12 AM

Technical!! Use your common sense!!!!!

Seal Friday, 20 August 2021 08:13 AM

Where is he talking from?

Prash Friday, 20 August 2021 08:29 AM

Disgraceful. No intention to protect the general public. What a waste of tax payers money to train people like you to be doctors. Conductors serve the nation better than doctors like you. Your playing up with the small technicalities to mislead the nation is appalling.

maha Friday, 20 August 2021 08:33 AM

If the authority is so blind

Gayan Friday, 20 August 2021 08:36 AM

The fool who keeps uttering this nonsense should be fired first.

Terrence Friday, 20 August 2021 08:36 AM

Are u Joking who is pulling who's leg

joshua Friday, 20 August 2021 08:46 AM

Another stooge of the SLPP. Get lost. Who listens to you or the government. We now listen to the experts and trade unions/trade associations. can't we arrest this fellow for false news????

Kumara Dharmarathne Friday, 20 August 2021 08:49 AM

We are sorry Dr., We cannot trust your statements any more. Pleas keep in mind that people of this country are not fools to believe whatever you come out with. Please also remember, there are so many other doctors apart from you in the country.

Anne Karunaratne Friday, 20 August 2021 08:58 AM

OMG!!!! Is this some plan to reduce the population?????????!!!!

J A Nihal Peiris Friday, 20 August 2021 09:00 AM

You All don't Feel How Stronger, Spreading this COVID-19 variants, Because you all SEVEN STAR WELL PROTECTED

Sri Lankan Friday, 20 August 2021 09:09 AM

"At least 80% of active cases are reported with no origin at present" - This is an evidence that it is a community transmission where the virus has spread deeply into the community.

B. Bandara Friday, 20 August 2021 09:10 AM

If it is not spreading through community then from where is it originating. Is it from hell.??????

varuna Friday, 20 August 2021 09:19 AM

Is he nuts, or are we? I am flummoxed! Please help me!!!

Pramod Friday, 20 August 2021 10:04 AM

Community spread means if an entire village, an entire housing complex have been infected with the virus. This is a medical term to describe the pandemic situation depending on the percentage of positive cases. So, guys.... please get your facts right before coming to a judgment.

LADURSHAN Friday, 20 August 2021 10:08 AM

Funny! the health ministry does not have even common sense. If it is not community spread, from whereelse the infected person gets the virus from? When the idiots talk about as if though they are intelligent, they are just jokers.

Sunil Friday, 20 August 2021 10:15 AM

Here is a guy who will fit squarely to this sordid regime. Even if the pandemic goes out of control - and it is inevitable - this guy will say that there is no community spread, just to please the government.

Dayan Friday, 20 August 2021 10:22 AM

Hold it tightly. Can get a promotion. But you are being paid from public funds.

Wije Friday, 20 August 2021 11:32 AM

Sad to see this type of professionals , one reason for country not progress for last 70 years cuz of these idiots

peter Friday, 20 August 2021 11:52 AM

Is this from the same Health ministry where the Minister in charge drank an untested concoction thrown together by a quack ? They have zero credibility !

Banda Friday, 20 August 2021 12:05 PM

Ofcourse. There is no community to spreade now. Go and tell those to bayyas.

Teachers unuon Friday, 20 August 2021 12:30 PM

Sir How about the Teachers community?

Kanthi Ratnayake Friday, 20 August 2021 12:49 PM

This Doctor is a lunatic.

N SENA Friday, 20 August 2021 08:26 PM

SO NO NEED TO PANIC

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No community spread yet, says Health Ministry

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