The Ministry of Health says a continuous increase in the number of COVID-19 cases reported daily can be expected, when considering the current data.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau, Director of the Bureau Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa claimed the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise again.
Dr. Batuwanthudawa said one such example is over 700 COVID-19 cases being reported yesterday.
He noted more persons may be infected with COVID-19, through the 700 cases detected yesterday.
Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa stressed therefore it is mandatory that the public continues to strictly adhere to health guidelines, to control the prevailing situation.
He added it is important to adhere to health guidelines, regardless of whether they’re vaccinated or not.
Meanwhile joining the media briefing, Chairman of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith said over one million children aged between 16 and 19 have been administered at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
He added they were administered the Pfizer vaccine as the first dose.
Prof. Rajindrajith said they initially aimed to vaccinate 1.3 million children in this age group.
He said the vaccination drive has covered a majority of students sitting for the GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations.
The Professor said only children aged over 16 are being vaccinated, adding a group of children aged between 15 and 16 remain unvaccinated.
He stated some of them have also been vaccinated, while they hope to vaccinate the rest in the near future.
He noted the report compiled by an expert committee pertaining to vaccinating children aged between 12 and 15 years will be handed over to the Ministry of Health in the near future.
He added they hope to obtain approval from the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases.
