The Government Medical Officers’ Association has warned there is risk of a fifth coronavirus wave emerging in the country due to the Omicron variant.
Speaking to NewsRadio, GMOA Central Committee member Dr. Prasad Ranaweera said the number of coronavirus infections reported daily will increase in the next two weeks due to public gatherings over the long weekend.
Dr. Ranaweera said it is evident that infection rates have increased drastically around the world especially in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada due to the Omicron variant.
He added there is a slight increase in infections in Sri Lanka as well.
Dr. Ranaweera stressed there is a possibility of a spike in the number of infections due to the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant.
He further said the number of coronavirus related deaths have decreased in relation to the number of infections due to the success of the vaccination programme.
Dr. Prasad Ranaweera said vaccination of all individuals above the age of 20 and school children aged 12-15 commenced.
He noted misinformation is circulating pertaining to the vaccines adding such claims have not been verified through scientific experiments.
Dr. Ranaweera therefore urged all individuals to obtain the vaccine as it provides significant protection against the virus.
He urged all parents and teachers to encourage children to be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the GMOA requested the government to facilitate other universities in the country to conduct the testing carried out at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to identify new variants of the coronavirus, as the future of the virus is uncertain.
Dr. Ranaweera said the Sri Jayewardenepura University is the only location currently conducting the relevant tests in Sri Lanka.
