The United National Party has raised concern over the increased number of COVID-19 positive cases reported in the country, especially among members of the security forces.
Issuing a statement, the UNP has severely criticised Health minister - Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi's recent statement where she said the outbreak had been contained and it was possible to lift the curfew.
"On the 18th of April 2020, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Affairs, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, told the people of Sri Lanka that the COVID-19 outbreak in the country had been contained and the nationwide curfew could be lifted. In the 10 days since the Minister made this announcement, the number of confirmed cases has risen by 334,' the statement notes.
The UNP also criticizes the lack of measures taken to protect persons involved in essential services and battling the virus on the frontlines.
"This failure to protect members of our essential services, who are battling the virus on the frontlines, is a measurement of the Health Minister’s failure to understand the reality of the situation," it adds.
The party has reiterated their call to increase PCR testing and increased PPE for members of our essential services.
"The Minister of Health has continually disregard these pleas from both the public and the medical professionals. Only on the 25th of April 2020 did the Health Ministry enable Private Hospitals to assist in carrying out the necessary testing," the statement says, urging the Minister of Health to increase the country’s current capability of testing to 3,000 PCR tests per day.
"The UNP asks the government to also provide members of our essential services and delivery services with the necessary protection equipment to assist them in carrying out their duties effectively and safely. These individuals are risking their lives to ensure we stay home, the government has the responsibility to ensure their lives are also protected," the statement further notes.
Prepare for dengue - Pavithra
Meanwhile, during a meeting with health officials today (29), minister of Health - Pavithra Wanniarachchi has also warned to be prepared for the rise of Dengue fever with the upcoming rainy season.
She has pointed out statistics of previous years has show that the number of Dengue fever cases peak especially during the South-Western monsoon season (from May to July) and during the North Eastern monsoon season (from October to January).
(Mirror)