Sri Lankan doctors renewed warnings to the government on Thursday to immediately impose a nationwide lockdown after authorities rejected the measure despite a surge in cases stretching hospitals to the limit.
Sri Lanka tightened some restrictions last week — banning state ceremonies, public gatherings, and inter-provincial travel — as reports emerged of coronavirus patients dying while awaiting admission to overcrowded hospitals. But most activity is allowed, with businesses still operating as normal.
Government spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the country had not reached a critical stage even as the nation suffers more than 100 deaths per day on average.
"Curfews or a lockdown is the last resort, but we are not there yet," Rambukwella told reporters. "Our target is to get everyone over the age of 18 vaccinated by September and thereafter it is in the hands of the gods."
Meanwhile, the country’s Association of Medical Specialists has warned that hospitals have “already run out of oxygen.”
Fueled by the spread of the highly contagious delta variant, coronavirus infections and deaths have doubled in the country since last month. The number of deaths hit a record 111 on Monday with the daily average in the past week crossing 100 -- more than double the average of 40 in the previous week. The number of infections also more than doubled to nearly 3,000 this week.
Sri Lanka tightened some restrictions last week — banning state ceremonies, public gatherings, and inter-provincial travel — as reports emerged of coronavirus patients dying while awaiting admission to overcrowded hospitals. But most activity is allowed, with businesses still operating as normal.
Government spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the country had not reached a critical stage even as the nation suffers more than 100 deaths per day on average.
"Curfews or a lockdown is the last resort, but we are not there yet," Rambukwella told reporters. "Our target is to get everyone over the age of 18 vaccinated by September and thereafter it is in the hands of the gods."
Meanwhile, the country’s Association of Medical Specialists has warned that hospitals have “already run out of oxygen.”
Fueled by the spread of the highly contagious delta variant, coronavirus infections and deaths have doubled in the country since last month. The number of deaths hit a record 111 on Monday with the daily average in the past week crossing 100 -- more than double the average of 40 in the previous week. The number of infections also more than doubled to nearly 3,000 this week.
